The Rise Up Scholarship enrolls students in the MREA’s Introductory Solar Training Package, an in-person training that enhances the MREA’s courses by expanding their duration and integrating hands-on activities. This approach provides students with an in-depth presentation of the concepts, going beyond a general overview to offer a more immersive introduction. Over the course of five days, students will complete phase one of the training program — PV 100: Introduction to Solar Energy Work and PV 101: Basic Photovoltaics courses. 

Students who would like to continue onto more advanced training, will be invited to enroll in phase two of the scholarship training which includes the remaining courses necessary to be eligible to sit for the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) PV Associate credential — an industry-recognized credential that validates technical knowledge and significantly enhances job prospects. The phase two courses include PV 201: PV Site Assessment, PV 202: PV System Design, PV 304: PV Labs and Design Scenarios, and PV 220: PV Exam Prep.

Additionally, the MREA fosters strong partnerships with local installers to offer classroom visits and career fairs, creating valuable opportunities for students to engage with potential employers and explore career pathways in the solar industry. The scholarship program also includes interactive activities that allow students to get hands-on with training tools such as a Harbor Freight 7-function multimeter, a Sunjack solar panel, and a solar car.