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A1 Solar Scholarship Season 3: Solar Pitch Winners Announced!
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The third season of the A1 Solar Scholarship has officially concluded! This year’s theme — Solar Pitch — challenged students across the U.S. to think big and pitch bold ideas for solar energy solutions. We received inspiring and creative submissions from talented students, all focused on advancing clean energy and addressing climate change. Congratulations to our winner, and thank you to everyone who participated!
721 applicants
48 states
300+ institutions
Meet the winner
Gabriel Boyd
Purdue University student
Project: Electrocean
I really appreciate that they (A1 SolarStore) thought highly of the technology that my startup is trying to push out there and implement in the world. And the funds from the scholarship are going to go towards supporting me so that I can finish my last semester of my undergrad at Purdue University strong. And it'll enable me to spend more time working on the startup that I would otherwise have had to spend at my part-time job here at the University Makerspace.
Gabriel's project
Past scholarship seasons
Season 2
The second season of the A1 Solar Scholarship finished in March 2025. That season’s theme — Projects — brought in passionate and innovative essays from students across North America, all focused on how clean energy could help fight climate change.
526 applicants
47 states
300+ institutions
William Mar
Lake Travis High School student
Project: App for tracking water fountains
Aquify ATX began after I fell victim to dehydration and heatstroke, which led me to discover that 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated and 75,000 plastic water bottles are discarded each minute. With the assistance of two friends, we built an app that crowdsources public water fountains throughout Austin and tracks users' hydration levels, serving both health and environment. In three months, we've kept 1,000 plastic bottles from the landfill, and 82% of our users say they're now using refillable bottles as a regular option.
Nicholas Anastasoff
Southern Maine Community College student
Project: Ocean monitoring platform
Manoj Nath Yogi
Howard University, Washington, DC
Project: AI in anaerobic digestion
Season 1
The first A1 Solar Scholarship started in October 2023 and concluded in March 2024. The participants were encouraged to write an essay answering the questions: “What’s your stance on climate change? Do you think it is going to impact your future? How do you envision your life and the life of your family in a world with climate change 30 years from now? How do you see yourself as an engineer contributing to solving the problem of climate change?”
273 applicants
41 states
100+ institutions
The winner of the A1 Solar Scholarship 23/24 is Michael Schoff from Dartmouth College, New Hampshire. Michael is pursuing a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering with a focus on renewable energy and climate engineering. We transferred the $1,000 award to Dartmouth College in the form of tuition.
Michael SchoffI am grateful to have received a scholarship from A1SolarStore to help fund my undergraduate education. I would like to use this platform to thank the company for their generosity and to highlight the good work that they are doing to mitigateclimate change.
FAQ
Who can apply for the A1 Solar Scholarship?
The scholarship is open to currently enrolled college students whose major or academic focus is related to sustainability, climate, or renewable energy.
Where can I find the video instructions?
All details and instructions will be sent to your email after you submit your application.
How is the winner selected?
Finalists are chosen based on creativity, relevance, and impact of the idea.
What is the prize?
The prize amount is not determined yet and will be announced later. The funds will be paid directly to support your education.
Can I apply if I’m outside the U.S.?
No, this scholarship is only open to students currently enrolled at U.S.-based institutions.
Can I submit a team project?
Yes, but the application must name one student as the main applicant. If selected, the scholarship prize will go to that individual.
Who should I get in touch with questions?
If you have any questions about this scholarship, email at [email protected] and we’ll get back to you.
Season 3 summary
- Eligibility: Enrolled college students
- Total funds: $1,000
- Field of study: Eco-related
- Selection criteria: Video pitch, impact
- Video deadline: November 9, 2025
- Winners announced: December 29, 2025