Collier

For his commitment to renewable energy, Cornell MBA student Robert Collier has won the 2013 OneEnergy Scholars Award.

Collier is one of six students nationwide to receive the award, given by OneEnergy Rewnewables, a developer of large-scale clean energy projects. The honor seeks to "accelerate the careers of high-potential individuals who exemplify the dedication and intellectual capacity required to move the clean energy industry forward," a OneEnergy statement said.

The award is based on Collier's application, which included an essay about his passion and commitment to clean energy. In that essay he detailed his previous work experience at the Environmental Defense Fund, his passion for finding pragmatic climate change solutions and his commitment to finding ways to increase private investment in clean energy.

"Thinking about how 6,973,738,433 people in the world (that's as of September 2012) will access reliable energy without compromising the economies, communities and environment of future generations drives my passion for renewable energy. Where some see a daunting challenge, I see an open opportunity to tap the vast ingenuity of private enterprise," he wrote.

Collier is pursuing an MBA at Cornell's Samuel C. Johnson Graduate School of Management and expects to graduate in 2014.

Winners received recognition at the 2012 Net Impact Conference, an invitation to a networking reception with OneEnergy's CEO, a private meeting with Starbucks' vice president for global responsibility, one-on-one mentoring with OneEnergy executives, internship opportunities and peer and professional networking. The award benefits are given by OneEnergy and NetImpact, a nonprofit that empowers young people to work on sustainability issues through and beyond their work.