In the first two weeks of June, five members of the Long Blue Line put their Men for Others ideals to work installing solar energy systems to empower those in need.

They served in two dramatically different settings, with one common purpose.

With the spectacular backdrop of snow-capped Pikes Peak in the distance, Noah Rolf ‘25 and Max Stewart ‘25 joined SonLight Power executive director, Kevin Sasson ‘93 and St. Xavier science faculty and SonLight Power board member, Tim Sorensen, on the roof of Engineering Ministries International (EMI) in Colorado Springs.

Together with a team of SonLight Power volunteers, they installed a 50-kilowatt solar system that will offset EMI’s electrical usage.  

“Being part of an engineering service project to help out another mission and seeing the impact of how my actions affect people gives meaning to being a man for others”, said Noah, a graduate of St. Xavier’s Engineering class.  Noah will continue his education at Clemson University.

Max, also a graduate of St. Xavier’s Engineering class, said, “It was a great opportunity to learn more engineering and make the world a better place through service and, at the same time, grow closer to God.”  Max will continue his education at the University of Tennessee.

SonLight Power (sonlightpower.org) is a Cincinnati-based nonprofit that equips other ministries locally and globally by designing, sourcing, and installing solar systems to either offset energy costs or bring reliable power to communities living in energy poverty.

EMI (emiworld.org) is a ministry that provides free engineering services to ministries worldwide, with wide-ranging design services - from hospitals to schools to community centers.  Offsetting EMI's electric usage will allow the mission to put more of its precious resources to work on what matters most, serving God’s people globally.

The following week, a St. Xavier father-son duo made their mark nearly 3,000 miles to the south, in the rugged mountains of Central America.  Definitely not snow-capped.

Colin Sorensen ’21 and dad, Tim, joined a SonLight Power team that included seven Hondurans and thirteen from Cincinnati's College Hill Presbyterian Church. Together, they installed 1100-Watt solar power systems with batteries at three remote schools deep in the Honduran mountains of Olancho, equipping those schools with electricity for the first time.

Colin reflected on the impact of his St. Xavier education:

"It's really meaningful to me that I get to live out my Men for Others mindset as I work my UC Engineering co-op with SonLight Power.  I get to use the language, academic, religion, and leadership skills that I learned at St. X while living out Jesus' preferential option for the poor. Before this trip, I had never seen places without access to electricity, and it was an eye-opening reminder of how blessed I've been.  I get to give away my gifts and training to serve people and it's really awesome."

While these solar projects were smaller in size, their impact is equally transformative.  Students, teachers, and families at these schools now have access to modern learning tools powered by solar energy.  And the battery banks allow each school to function beyond daylight hours, expanding educational opportunities to all ages.  Given the 30+ year lifetime of each system, the impact is lasting and generational. The three solar systems installed by this international team bring the total number of remote Honduran schools equipped by SonLight Power to over 130 since 2002. 

“Reflecting on the projects, I realized that they embodied all four of the Jesuits’ Universal Apostolic Preferences: Caring for our Common Home, Walking with the Excluded, Journeying with Youth, and Showing the way to God.”, said Tim.  “While the Solar Team was doing their work, the Fiesta Team was playing games, giving school supplies, and sharing the love of Jesus with the students and families of these wonderful schools.  It was amazing to be a part of all of those great things coming together in one place.”

The solar projects in Colorado Springs and Honduras are another great example of members of the Long Blue Line serving others both right after graduating and well into their careers.

"It's come full circle for me," says Kevin.  "I was once in Noah's, Max's, and Colin's shoes - I remember those times.  I’m blessed to work at a place like SonLight Power where I can connect with the Long Blue Line and be involved in something special, where we walk out our Men for Others ideals together. I'm so proud to serve in such a purpose-driven way alongside my St. Xavier brothers - of all ages.  Hope we can do this again soon."