Colorado Gives Day, on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011, is approaching, and Solar Energy International is remembering instructor Walt Ratterman and his dedication to helping bring solar to the developing world.

Colorado Gives Day is a 24-hour period of online giving where every donation made to SEI at www.givingfirst.org/solarenergy gets a boost from the First Bank Incentive Fund. Every year, Solar Energy International receives requests for scholarships to our training programs from potential participants in rural communities of the developing world. To assist our students in receiving the training they need, SEI is proud to honor Walt Ratterman by offering need-based training scholarships.

Walt Ratterman in HaitiWalt Ratterman (pictured far left in Haiti), who perished in the tragic Jan. 12, 2010 earthquake in Haiti, was an instructor, alumnus, supporter and friend of SEI. Walt was in Haiti working on solar projects for health clinics at the time of the deadly earthquake.

Walt brought solar training and humanitarian aid to Rwanda, Uganda, Afghanistan, Benin, Burundi, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Palestine, the Philippines, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Tibet, Ecuador, Peru, Nicaragua, Haiti, and the list goes on. To Walt, humanitarian aid knew no boundaries. 

Solar Energy International feels privileged to have known and worked with Walt over the years. And his spirit lives on in the many thousands of lives around the world that he has touched, and the remarkable work that people he inspired will keep on doing.

In that spirit, SEI offers scholarships in his name to people in developing countries. These scholarships are made possible by donors like you.

Your donation to SEI will provide more Walt Ratterman Scholarships. If you donate here on Dec. 6, your donation will get a boost from FirstBank ... Your donation, only bigger!