July 1, 2025 / St. Xavier and SonLight Power serving together in Colorado and Honduras
“I’m blessed to work at 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.”
– Kevin Sasson, SonLight Power executive director & 1993 alum of St. Xavier High School
A Cincinnati St. Xavier High School reunion broke out at a SonLight Power installation in Colorado Springs.
In June, four members of the Long Blue Line put their Men for Others ideals to work building a solar power system whose impact will be felt around the world.
With the spectacular backdrop of snow-capped Pikes Peak in the distance, 2025 St. Xavier graduates Noah Rolf and Max Stewart joined 1993 St. X grad and SonLight Power executive director, Kevin Sasson along with St. Xavier science faculty and SonLight Power board member, Tim Sorensen, on the roof of Engineering Ministries International (EMI).
Above: (Left to right) Tim Sorensen, Noah Rolf, Max Steward, and Kevin Sasson showcasing the SonLight Power solar installation in Colorado Springs with snow-capped Pikes Peak in the background
Together with a team of SonLight Power volunteers, they equipped EMI’s headquarters with a 50-kilowatt solar system that will offset 100% of the building’s electrical usage.
EMI is a ministry that provides engineering services to other ministries worldwide, with wide-ranging design services – from hospitals to schools to community centers to entire campuses.
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.
This SonLight Power solar project was a great example of the Long Blue Line coming together to walk the Men for Others mantra.
Above: Max and Noah help with the solar installation on the roof of EMI's headquarters in Colorado Springs.
“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 pursue an engineering degree 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 major in engineering at the University of Tennessee.
Above: Max and Noah assist with wire management under the solar panels of the EMI solar project.
UNIFYING PROJECT
The SonLight Power mission inherently brings multifaceted people together for a common
purpose. This solar project was no exception.
Beyond the St. Xavier contingent, the SonLight Power installation team in Colorado Springs featured a diverse crew from varying geographies, ages, backgrounds, and workplaces:
- Volunteers and advisers traveled from five states – Colorado, Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee, New Jersey
- Ages ranged from recent high school grads to retirees from industry
- Professional electricians and solar installers contributed, including representatives of Enstall-IronRidge, Colorado Mountain Solar, and Action Electric
- SonLight Power staff and board members were present, as were EMI staff
- Skilled volunteers from other like-minded organizations like Young Life joined the effort
- The team included an emerging videographer connected with Boonrise
Above: Susan Stark of Enstall-IronRidge talks with Clay Luna (left); Jon Gomez from EMI gets more than just his hands dirty (middle); Derek Jackson from Action Electric completes wiring at the electrical panels (right)
GOD’S PRESENCE
Pikes Peak — the famous snow-capped summit at over 14,000 feet — stood as a majestic backdrop during the week-long solar project at EMI.
But uncharacteristic clouds and rain created long stretches where the team couldn’t see the Pikes Peak summit. While doing their last devotional of the trip, Kevin reminded the SonLight Power team there’s a spiritual metaphor about God in this experience.
Above: Tim, standing, teams with volunteer Gordon Anaple of Young Life to tighten bolts on the array in misty conditions (left); Pikes Peak visible in the distance towers over Colorado Springs (right)
Even though clouds kept them from visibly seeing the mountain, they knew its presence was still there in the mist. And when the clouds went away, there the summit was again, clearly standing above everything, unmistakable.
God is no different — His presence is always there, even when life’s mist clouds our view.
After finishing the installation, the team got to drive up Pikes Peak after admiring it all week at a distance.
Above: Members of the SonLight Power team drive to Pikes Peak (left); Kevin admires the panoramic view near Pikes Peak summit (right)
ST. XAVIER & SONLIGHT POWER – PART 2
The week after the SonLight Power solar installation in Colorado Springs, 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.
Tim Sorensen caught a plane and flew to Honduras to join his son, Colin, a 2021 St. Xavier alum, and 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.
Above: Colin and Tim (foreground) with students at CB Francisco Morazan School in Olancho, Honduras. Also note the light shining from newly installed electric lights on the ceiling, powered by the school’s new solar power system.
Colin reflected on the impact of his St. Xavier education in relation to his week in Honduras:
"It's really meaningful to me that I get to live out my Men for Others mindset as I work my University of Cincinnati 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 much smaller in size than the one Tim helped install at EMI,
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 part of our team was installing the solar power systems, another part was engaged with children’s ministry – playing games, giving school supplies, and sharing the love of Jesus with the students and families of these wonderful schools,” Tim said. “It was amazing to be a part of all of those great things coming together in one place.”
Witnessing fellow alumni from his alma mater serve with the mission he now leads, the SonLight Power solar projects in Colorado Springs and Honduras hit home for Kevin.
"It's come full circle for me," said 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 proud to serve in such a purpose-driven way alongside my St. Xavier brothers – of all ages. Hope we can do this again soon."
Above: Comparison of completed roof-mounted solar project in Colorado Springs (left) and one of three pole-mounted systems installed in Honduras (right)
SonLight Power strives to be The Trusted Partner for Solar Power Among Mission Organizations. We’re delighted to equip amazing missions like EMI while aligning with curriculum/service goals of schools like St. Xavier.
Could your mission benefit from the power of the Son/sun? Looking for ways your school or organization can partner with SonLight Power for purpose-driven service trips? Connect with us at Info@SonLightPower to explore.
