2026 STEM Educator Solar Institute Application

2026 STEM Educator Solar Institute

All applications received by March 15th will be reviewed and notified through email by April 1st. To qualify for this institute, you must teach middle school or above. After March 15th, we will notify you on a rolling basis if there is still room in the institute. If you have any questions, please contact Liz Reinke at ereinke@madisoncollege.edu.
Workshop Location
Madison College Commercial Avenue Campus

Days/Times
Tuesday, July 7th, 10:00 am - 4:30 pm
Wednesday, July 8th, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Thursday, July 9th, 8:30 am - 3:00 pm

We can only accept participants who can commit to attending all three days of the institute.
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Contact Information
Name*

First NameLast Name
Preferred name for your name tag (if different from above):
Primary Email (This is the email you would like us to use to communicate with you. You will be receiving important emails during the summer, so be sure to provide an email address you will be checking during that time.)*
example@example.com
Secondary Email (This is not required, but it's a good idea to provide an additional email just in case. For example, if you gave us your work email for the primary and you happen to change jobs, we will not have a way to communicate with you unless you give us an alternate email.)
example@example.com
Shipping Address (After attending the institute, each participant will be mailed a $600 stipend check. We will mail your check to this address.)*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Cell Phone Number (We will not use this number unless we are unable to establish communication over email. Please provide a number that can receive text messages)*

Area CodePhone Number
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School Information
School Name*
School Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Grades and Subjects Taught*
School Administrator's Name*
What percentage of your school's students receive free or reduced lunch?*
Years of Teaching Experience*
Section 3/8

New applications and faculty teams
Have you attended a previous CREATE Institute or other solar energy training?*

YesNo
Please list the CREATE institute you attended, when you attended, and any other solar trainings you have completed.*
Are you applying as part of a faculty team? To foster collaboration between schools and faculty, preference will be given to individuals applying as members of a faculty team.*

YesNo
Please enter the name(s) of your teammates.*
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Your education
Please list institutions you have attended and degree(s)
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Institute Objectives and Selection Criteria
Participants are expected to accomplish the following Institute objectives:

1. Participants become familiar with solar photovoltaic technology by working with PV technology and installing a PV system.

2. From their Institute laboratory experiences, participants develop at least one solar PV lesson for use in their classroom.

3. Following the Institute, participants provide meaningful feedback on their experiences teaching solar PV concepts and lessons from ideas and materials developed at the Institute.

4. Participants develop supportive educational relationships among participants with whom they share similar educational circumstances or interests.
Consider the Institute objectives above. In a short paragraph describe attributes you possess or situations that are unique to your teaching circumstances that distinguish you to participate in this Institute.*
Consider Institute objective #2. In a short paragraph describe your motivation(s) to incorporate one or more lessons from the Solar Institute in a class that you will teach in the upcoming school year. In your response, please discuss: i) Which class? ii) With what you currently know, how do you plan to do it? iii) What additional support(s) [people, materials, monetary, etc.] are available to help you accomplish your goal?*
Please describe any other teaching, work experience, research, or school / community involvement you have had with energy or renewable energy-related topics. In a short paragraph explain how your experience distinguishes you to participate in this Institute.*
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Accessibility
PLEASE NOTE: The STEM Educator Solar Institute includes training and activities that will take place outdoors. Participants should expect to work outside, in potentially hot and sunny conditions that will include working on simulated rooftop environments. Individuals with limitations that might affect their participation in such activities may wish to consult with a physician to determine the appropriateness of this Institute for their given physical condition. Please contact us if you have questions about the nature of the activities and if you may need accommodations.

Work may include climbing ladders, walking on pitched roofs and elevated scaffolding, and team lifting heavy objects.

Your answer to this question will not affect your acceptance to this program. It will help us to make sure you get the most from this professional development activity.
Will you require any accommodations to participate in workshop activities? Your answer to this question will not affect your acceptance to this program. It will help us to make sure you get the most from this professional development activity.*

YesNoMaybe
Please list any accommodations needed to help you participate in this institute.
Please describe any dietary conditions you have. You may select more than one option.

VegetarianGluten FreeVeganOther
Do you have any allergies to food or other items? If so, please list them below.
Section 7/8

Travel and Hotel
The 2025 STEM Educator Solar Institute is located in Madison, WI. Will you be driving or flying to the institute? If you're not sure just use your best guess.*

DrivingFlying
How much time will your drive be to this institute?*

0-1 hour1-3 hours3-6 hoursOver 6 hours
Will you need hotel lodging in Madison for the Institute?*

YesNoMaybe
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Equal Education Opportunity
Madison College endorses the principle of equal educational and employment opportunities for all people, regardless of race, color, sex, religion, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, age or non-job related handicap or disability. Furthermore, Madison College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, age or non-job related handicap or disability in the educational programs or activities it operates.

The following information is collected for demographic reporting purposes only. Your response to these questions are optional, and will not impact your selection to this program. This information will help us with reporting to our grant funding sources.
Which most accurately describes you?

WomanManNon-binaryI prefer not to sayOther
What race/ethnicity best describes you?

American Indian or Alaska NativeAsianBlack or African AmericanNative Hawaiian or Other Pacific IslanderWhitePrefer not to sayOther
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2026 STEM Educator Solar Institute

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