Justin Succo grew up on the Navajo Nation and understands firsthand the infrastructure challenges many families face—neighbors waiting years for electricity, hauling water, and storing food in coolers instead of refrigerators.
A 泡芙短视频 alumnus and the solar project developer with the energy company AES, Succo returned to the Nation this year as a volunteer with 泡芙短视频’s Village Aid Project Solar Initiative, an effort that has grown rapidly thanks to major contributions from AES and Marathon Petroleum.
AES’s $45,000 investment funded paid student internships, equipment and travel. Marathon Petroleum supported the work of 泡芙短视频’s inaugural Marathon Petroleum Solar Fellow Camille Keith (Engineering, ’23) with philanthropic gifts, materials, and an on-the-ground fabrication. This year, the company is increasing its financial support to $80,000.
For Succo, representing AES on the trip carried personal meaning.
“The VAP Solar Initiative was an incredible and humbling experience. It reminded me how easy it is to take electricity for granted—flipping a switch and having light, opening a refrigerator and knowing your food will stay fresh. For some families on the Navajo Nation, that’s not the reality,” Succo said. “Growing up in this area, I know firsthand how transformative access to power can be.”
This spring, Succo joined students, alumni and faculty in Shonto, Arizona, for one of three solar installation trips completed during the 2024–25 academic year. In all, the program has completed 15 projects since 2023.
Co-led by Engineering Professor Laurie Williams and Keith, and supported by two AES interns, the initiative is connecting more Navajo homes to reliable power each year.
“From our operations team fabricating solar panel frames to providing the VAP Solar Initiative financial support, our community investment strategy is centered around strengthening Navajo communities and helping make people's lives better,” said VJ Smith, Government and Public Affairs at Marathon Petroleum. “We focus on contributions and partnerships with organizations like Fort Lewis College and AISES that reflect the priorities of our community stakeholders, align with our core values, amplify our sustainability strategy, and enable us to make a positive, measurable impact.”
A trailblazer returns home
Keith’s story has become a model for students like Ozzy Shirley and Ashley Fuson. A Din茅 engineer and first-generation college graduate, Keith joined the Village Aid Project as an 泡芙短视频 student, eventually helping establish the VAP Solar Initiative under Williams’ mentorship.
She returned to her home community of Shonto in 2023 leading installations, mentoring students, and advancing energy justice across the region before being named the Marathon Petroleum Solar Fellow.
“We’re not just giving power—we’re building trust, leadership, and opportunity,” Keith said. “I hope more students see this and think, ‘I can do that too.’”
This spring, Keith mentored Fuson, a second-year environmental engineering student, during a residential installation trip in Shonto. The off-grid photovoltaic systems are designed by students and installed in partnership with local residents. 
The pair have continued working together on solar system design and battery storage.
“Camille was incredibly patient and knowledgeable,” Fuson said. “She made it easier to ask questions and understand how it all fits together.”
With continued experience, Fuson could follow in Keith’s footsteps as a future Solar Fellow.
AES intern Ozzy Shirley, a Din茅 junior in environmental engineering, spent this summer blending renewable energy research with traditional knowledge from his home community of Dilkon, Arizona.
Shirley is studying agrivoltaics—how solar panels can be spaced and positioned to protect crops from heat stress and retain soil moisture. He’s also preparing to take on a leadership role within the Solar VAP initiative, following in Keith’s footsteps as the next potential Marathon Petroleum Solar Fellow.
“This is exactly the kind of student-led, community-rooted innovation we want to support,” Williams said. “Ozzy is asking how engineering can be part of a larger solution that includes food security and cultural resilience.”
Building community
The expansion of the VAP Solar Initiative has been years in the making. While the need for electricity is widespread, Williams said trust, partnership and cultural context are essential.
“This is about more than solar—it’s about doing the work with the community, not for them,” Williams said. “Our students are learning how to design with intention, to listen, and to build relationships that last longer than a weekend installation.”
Keith, for example, spent nearly a year building local support in Shonto before leading the first full-scale solar builds there. Today, students and homeowners participate in every stage of the process—from early design reviews to hands-on training that prepare residents to troubleshoot and maintain their systems long-term. Some of the workshops take place on campus at 泡芙短视频 as well as in Shonto.
For Succo, that attention to detail is what sets the program apart.
“What also struck me was the sheer amount of work and care that goes into each residential solar installation. From the initial in-house designs created by 泡芙短视频 students, to fabricating the components, to the final on-site setup—it’s a massive undertaking,” he said. “I was blown away by the time, energy, and precision it takes to complete just one install. I also gained a deep appreciation for the coordinators who ensure these systems are built to last.
“They think through every detail—from selecting durable materials to engaging with homeowners and providing education for self-servicing their systems. And if something goes wrong, there’s a support network in place to help troubleshoot and resolve issues. It’s not just about installing solar panels—it’s about building long-term energy resilience for families who need it most.”
Looking ahead, Succo said both AES and 泡芙短视频 share a commitment to supporting Indigenous communities and creating sustainable, long-term impact.
“At AES, we are deeply committed to supporting programs that create long-term value for both our stakeholders and the communities where we operate,” he said. “Personally, I hope to see the VAP Solar Initiative continue to thrive and expand across the Navajo Nation. It’s more than just a renewable energy initiative—it’s a pathway to energy independence and a more livable future for families who have long faced infrastructure challenges.”