The 2015 Senior Class Gift committee announced moments ago that a solar panel array was chosen as the senior class gift and presented to Senior Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Rod Kirsch.

A list of proposals for the 2015 gift were narrowed down to three options by the committee: the winning solar panel array, an Alma Mater display inscribed on a campus sidewalk, and a Student Success Fund. All students graduating in 2015 (May, August, and December) were eligible to vote and donate to the senior class gift.

“The proposals are then narrowed down to the top 25, then top ten, and finally the top three that the seniors vote on,” explained Tara Bendler, executive director of the Class Gift Campaign.

Voting took place last week, from Monday until Friday. Seniors who made a pledge before the Friday deadline were allowed to vote twice.

Here’s the official description of the array from the committee:

“In support of a vision of a more sustainable Penn State embraced by both its leadership and student body, this class gift will fund the construction of a solar panel array on the University Park campus. The first step of many to come, the solar array will serve as a renewable energy source and a valuable educational resource, and it will align with Penn State’s goal to reduce building energy use by 20 percent over the next decade. The solar array will also build awareness of our energy-reduction efforts and proclaim Penn State’s strong commitment to sustainability and a greener future.”