Candela Renewables, a developer of utility-scale solar power projects in the U.S., has announced a $25,000 donation to Hardin County Schools (HCS) to fund science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) summer camps at middle schools in the school system. The donation was presented at the April 20, 2023 Board of Education meeting.
The donation will allow HCS to host STEM camps at all middle schools within the school system, including Bluegrass, East Hardin, J.T. Alton, North and West Hardin middle schools. The funding will cover the costs of HCS teachers and staff training, staffing, transportation and camp resources. Students will be able to attend the camp for free.
“We are extremely grateful for this generous donation, which will allow us to provide exciting and enriching STEM camp experiences for our district's middle school students,” said Teresa Morgan, superintendent for Hardin County Schools. “The camps will teach students about energy conservation and alternative energy sources through a fun ‘Energy Carnival’ setting. This donation will not only help to enhance our students' understanding of STEM but will also inspire their curiosity and creativity as they explore engaging activities.”
Candela Renewables is developing the Stonefield Solar Project, a solar photovoltaic generating facility in Hardin County. The site is located near the Vulcan Materials Quarry along U.S. Highway 62 near the southwestern edge of the City of Elizabethtown, generally between the T.J. Patterson Industrial Park and the Glendale Mega Site. The project will be presented for approval at the May 2 meeting of the Hardin County Planning and Development Commission.
The donation was presented Thursday evening by Aubree Muse, Project Development Senior Analyst at Candela Renewables. A graduate of Central Hardin High School, Muse returned to Hardin County to work with Candela after earning a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science & Public Policy from Harvard University in 2021.
“As a product of Hardin County Schools, this is an amazing way to give back to a school system that has given me so much,” Muse said. “I hope this funding fosters an interest in STEM among local students and opens their eyes to the expansive opportunities available through these fields. A strong STEM foundation can inspire them to imagine the innovation that’s possible in the future.”
To learn more about Candela and the Stonefield Solar Project, CLICK HERE.