Well the semester has certainly flown by, and now the time for Roatan is finally upon us! I think we are all ready to get the job done and have an amazing trip. First things first though – I still need to pack and shop! Doh! Eh, that’s what Fridays are for. 😛

Last week we assembled a six panel PV system within a coned area representing the Daycare’s roof area. It was my second time assembling a PV array of this scale; however, I have to admit it felt like an entirely new experience. We gained valuable knowledge of the various technicalities and safety precautions associated with PV assembly, and I think we are prepared to start work on the real array in Honduras. We took some pictures to document this experience. Enjoy!

That’s right, we’re just a few days away! Last class we were able to practice assembling a real solar system, which was not as complicated as I thought it would be. There were a lot of stange parts (and a bunch of tools I had never used before), but we were able to get the system together pretty quickly because we were all working together! We also talked about construction safety, which will be very important when we are working on site.

Tonight is the last meeting before we leave. I can’t wait! 🙂

~Kristen

To get into the spirit of things Sarah, Mayen, and I went to a Samba dance lesson.  It was a ton of fun! We aren’t quite professionals yet, but we are excited to dance in Honduras.

Mayen

Sarah

For class this week we went to CATO park for a hands on solar installation. Safety on ladders and being on the roof were stressed. We had the experience of setting up six solar panels on a metal mounting system in an area that was marked as the same as the roof in Roatan. Setting up the panels was a very good team bonding experience. It really forced all of us to work together to correctly mount the panels and adjust the brackets. I am interested to see how we will split up into smaller teams in Honduras when we actually install the panels. There will only be allowed about four people on the roof at a time. Class today was very hands on and technical. I am really excited for the trip!

Name: Brenda Kelly Rowe, P.E. (formerly Brenda Koch)

Degree from PSU: Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Class of ‘86

My Penn State degree in civil engineering helped  launch a very successful career for me in the architectural/engineering/construction (AEC) industry.  I’ve worked for the Federal Highway Administration designing streets and bridges for our National Parks including major parkways like the Natchez Trace and George Washington Parkways.  After moving to Texas I got into land development where I eventually managed a team of over 60 land development professionals in San Antonio for a national engineering consulting firm.  Our projects were diverse ranging from small restaurant sites to large 1000 acre+ master-planned mixed use developments.  Most recently, I’ve followed my dream to start my own engineering firm and founded GRE Engineering in May of 2012.  We are a multi-discipline firm offering civil, mechanical, electrical, plumbing engineering and commissioning services.  We have a focus on sustainability including efficient land use, water conservation, and energy management.  The solar panel project in Honduras will be a great “lessons learned” opportunity for me and my new venture and I look forward to working with the future engineering leaders and alumni of PSU.  And of course, I look forward to spending time with my niece who I’m very proud of, second year engineering student, Gretchen Buttorff.