Students from North Judson-San Pierre High School have been named finalists in the national Dual-Use Student Design Challenge.
The competition is tied to the 2025 Solar Farm Summit in Chicago. The students spent the semester studying the intersection and future of food and energy systems. They developed real-world solutions for challenges they witnessed during a visit to Mammoth Solar, an agrivoltaic farm spanning Starke and Pulaski counties.
At Mammoth Solar, the students toured the facility and met with on-site agrivoltaics farmer Billy Bope. Bope shared some of the challenges he has encountered integrating solar energy with agricultural practices like sheep grazing. The students then developed solutions based on what they heard and their own research.
“Our students don’t often get opportunities like this, and they certainly rose to the challenge,” said Mollie Dollahan, business instructor, in a press release. “Being named finalists and getting to present their ideas on a national stage is an incredible affirmation of their hard work and vision.”
The experience is part of an ongoing collaboration between Mammoth Solar’s support of the StartedUp Foundation’s Innovation Educator Fellowship, the school’s business program and the Solar Farm Summit’s Student Design Challenge.
The program aims to empower students with career exposure, hands-on problem-solving experience and a platform to share their ideas with leaders in renewable energy and agriculture.
“Supporting innovative learning experiences and professional mentorship is part of Mammoth Solar’s broader mission of helping students in rural communities gain the skills and confidence they need to succeed in tomorrow’s economy,” Chris Kline, Mammoth Solar development manager, said. “Dual use is going to be at the center of both the energy and agriculture industries, and these brilliant students are poised for success in both. That’s the ultimate win in our community engagement efforts.”
The Solar Farm Summit is Aug. 4-7, with the Student Design Challenge Showcase taking place Aug. 7.
