Cypress Creek Offers Scholarships for Introduction to Solar Workshop

Cypress Creek recently sponsored four scholarships to cover tuition for students to learn the fundamentals of solar energy, types of solar energy systems, and the electrical and mechanical design of photovoltaic arrays. The week-long course was taught by Vice President of Operational Excellence Max Isaacs in Boone, NC. Cypress Creek scholarships were available for North Carolina community college students in Iredell, Rowan, or Yadkin County.

The workshop introduced students to a career in renewable energy. Participants’ coursework aligned with the key competencies addressed in the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) PV Associate exam. In addition, students were able to receive continuing education hours for the American Institute of Architects (AIA) certification.

Group of ASU workshop students and Cypress Creek employee

Max Isaacs described his experience teaching the course, “As an Appalachian State alum (’03), teaching this workshop annually for the past six years has been a great opportunity to reconnect with the ASU community, while also providing students with technical skillsets for the renewable energy industry.”

Cypress Creek plans to have another two-day workshop in the fall at ASU focusing on commissioning operations tools and techniques.

Chad Halcomb, a student at a local community college attended the course. He said, “Max Isaacs and J.R. Whitley did a great job of covering all the different aspects of PV and its various applications. It was a very informative workshop and I gained valuable knowledge in the design and construction of PV systems. I feel like I am much better prepared to enter the PV industry after taking this workshop.” Chad said he plans to take the NABCEP certification exam in August, between his summer and fall semesters.

Ben Brown, Lead Electrical Facilities Services Technician and student at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, “plans to use the information from the workshop to better support his partnerships with contractors who install and commission the PV systems on the campus.”

Cypress Creek partners with technical and community colleges across the US to create, support and promote solar job training. Our aim is to strengthen the U.S. energy workforce through proactive investment in job training and workforce development through scholarships, guest lectures, in-field classroom experiences and equipment donations. We maintain six workforce development partnerships across the country.