Cypress Creek Renewables Expands Betabox Learning Partnership in North and South Carolina for 2025-26 School Year

Cypress Creek first partnered with Betabox Learning in 2023 and since then has expanded, giving even more students in the Carolinas the opportunity to learn about renewable energy, electronics engineering, and sustainable technology through interactive and engaging experiences.

Durham, N.C., September 17, 2025 — Cypress Creek Renewables (Cypress Creek), a leading renewables developer and independent power producer, and Betabox Learning, an innovative STEM enrichment and instructional resources provider, are pleased to announce the expansion of their collaboration designed to inspire the next generation of solar industry professionals. To date, Cypress Creek has impacted over 4,000 students across North and South Carolina through Betabox Learning’s program. The 2025-26 partnership will extend the reach of Betabox Learning’s STEM programs to over 2,100 additional students across 8 to 10 counties in North and South Carolina. 

The solar industry is experiencing rapid growth in the Carolinas and faces a critical need for a skilled workforce. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a surge in solar photovoltaic installer jobs, growing 51% from 2019 to 2029, significantly faster than the average for all occupations. This program seeks to address this gap by engaging students across the Carolinas in hands-on learning experiences intended to increase interest and awareness amongst middle and high school students of essential skills in engineering and technology, particularly in the solar sector. 

“We’re proud to continue our partnership with Cypress Creek Renewables to deliver Betabox’s hands-on learning experiences to rural schools across the Carolinas. Together, we’re opening doors for thousands of students to explore technology career opportunities they would not otherwise experience. The response from educators has been incredible, and we couldn’t be more excited to continue this partnership,” said Sean Newman Maroni, CEO of Betabox Learning. 

“As a Betabox volunteer myself, I have seen firsthand the excitement and joy that students have when interacting with the curriculum,” said Mike Storch, Manager of External Affairs for Cypress Creek. “We are excited to continue our partnership with Betabox Learning and explore more ways to maximize learning experience for our Carolinian students.” 

How Schools Can Participate 

The program is now available to schools in the North Carolina counties of Scotland, Person, Duplin, Robeson, Bladen, Wayne, Jones, Davidson, Lenoir, Warren and Vance, as well as Marlboro County, S.C. All middle and high schools within these counties are eligible to apply for this program, with priority enrollment directed to Title 1 schools in these districts. Schools in other counties within the two states are eligible to apply for but will be considered on a case-by-case basis depending on resources. 

Follow The Program 

Visit https://www.betabox.com/cypress-creek to learn more about the program and see which schools the mobile unit is visiting. Community leaders and stakeholders seeking to visit an upcoming location to see the mobile unit in action can email [email protected] to request to view the experience.

About Betabox Learning 

Betabox Learning’s mission is to open the path into technology for all students so the future works for everyone. We deliver evidence-based, hands-on learning experiences that are easy for schools to implement, reaching students in rural and underrepresented communities through partnerships with government, industry, and nonprofit stakeholders. Since 2015, Betabox has engaged over 500,000 students across the Southeast through Onsite Field Trips, and has helped hundreds of school districts sustain STEM instruction through our Hands-on Projects and Classbox.com platform. As technology continues to shape the future of work, Betabox is committed to ensuring that students from every community have the opportunity to thrive in the workplace of the future.