BULLHEAD CITY, Ariz. – Mohave Electric Cooperative (MEC) has awarded the 2026 SunWatts Education Grant as a continuing show of support for renewable energy education. MEC is proud to support local educators’ efforts in going the extra mile by using innovative ideas to help local youth learn sustainable concepts. The SunWatts Education Grant program is part of MEC’s commitment to our community and is funded through REST (Renewable Energy Standard and Tariff) program. Funds from the grant will be used to teach students about sustainability through curriculums designed and implemented by the grant winners.
Educators Arlene Nicolas of Cedar Hills School, Samantha Penfold of Fort Mojave Elementary School, Joana Lusayan of Desert Valley Elementary School, and Jessie Cativiela of Sunrise Elementary School were the recipients of this year’s education grant.
This year’s SunWatts Education Grants supported a variety of innovative, hands-on learning opportunities for students. Nicolas received $5,000 for her Renewable Energy Lab: Harnessing the Mohave Sun & Wind, while Penfold received $425 for her Renewable Energy in Action: The Kinetic Sail Car Challenge. Lusayan was awarded $239 for her Solar-Powered Water Purification Project, and Cativiela received $183 for her Solar-Powered Fan Engineering Challenge.
Representatives from MEC delivered the checks with congratulations to the grant recipients.
Nicolas expressed, “Receiving the SunWatts Education Grant means so much to our classroom. In a small community like ours, having actual renewable energy tools changes everything – it turns textbook science into something my students can build and test with their own hands and collect data. It gives our kids a chance to see themselves as real problem-solvers, young innovators, showing them that their community truly stands behind them. Everyone at Cedar Hills School is so grateful to Mohave Electric Cooperative for helping us spark curiosity.”
Educators interested in applying for the grant in 2027 can look for the announcement on the website early next year. For other MEC education programs, including the $200 classroom grants, please see mohaveelectric.com.
Featured photo: Front row (left to right): MEC Energy Management Specialist Courtney Nixon; SunWatts Award Recipient, Cedar Hills School Educator Arlene Nicolas; Cedar Hills School Superintendent and Principal Christina Ramirez; and Special Administrator Deborah Lund. Back row (left to right): Cedar Hills School Board Member Tammy Herrera; Business Office Manager Samuel Dell; Cedar Hills School Board President Leanne Donason; and Cedar Hills School Board Member Valerie Grimes. Christine Owens/MEC.
