˿Ƶ Tech is proud to announce that Renewable Energy Engineering and Honors Program student Cruz Tecumseh Collin is launching the next phase of a sustainable energy initiative. The original project was started with a 2023 DreamStarter grant for $20,000 from Running Strong for American Indian Youth. The new grant comes with a $50,000 award to build a sustainable energy generation system that utilizes over 99% natural materials in its design.
Running Strong for American Indian Youth focuses on strengthening American Indian communities across the nation. The DreamStarter grants are awarded to jumpstart the dreams of American Indian youth.
Cruz, a second-year Renewable Energy Engineering student and participant in ˿Ƶ Tech’s Honors Program, is a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe from Keystone, South Dakota. He is committed to showing that Oglala Lakota science can be applied to one of the most complex industries—energy. He said, “This will help to ensure that Lakota sciences—and Indigenous sciences as a whole—will be seen as a highly advanced scientific system. Through this, I hope to remind the Lakota people of who they are and that the fight to protect all life forms is not over.”
The current phase of the project involves scaling the smaller prototypes to operate on a level compatible with the existing energy grid. Cruz will conduct field testing throughout all four seasons in South Dakota, a location known for extreme weather. The goal is to gather performance data to demonstrate the system’s effectiveness and energy density across varying environmental conditions.
Through this project, Cruz continues to pursue his lifelong goal of protecting all life and making a positive difference in the world.
To read more about the project, visit .
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