Sheridan students push school to go solar

SHERIDAN, Ind. (WISH) - When small-school powerhouse Sheridan High School hosts The Zone tailgate Friday, it'll be a familiar sight under the lights. But in future years, those lights on the field - and those in the classrooms and hallways and everywhere else - could be getting power in a completely different way if engineering and technology students have their way.

Engineering and technology students are urging the school to consider alternative energy sources including solar and wind. The idea started when the class was building a model of the school.

"We didn't know what we were doing at the beginning - or any point throughout it, said student Boone Rose. "We kept adding stuff as we went."

What they came up with turned into more than wood, foam and paint; they developed an entire plan for bringing alternative energy to the campus, including solar, wind and geothermal, even contingencies for cloudy, calm days.

Now, the students are planning a presentation to the school board on the energy proposal.

"We're trying to make a name for this program, to make everyone aware that this isn't 'shop class' anymore. This is engineering and technology, and we're going to focuse on making changes," said teacher Ryan Cox.