Our Crowdfunding Groups
Christopher S. Jaap, class of 1995, was inspired by the possibilities of sustainable practices and the triple bottom line – People, Planet, Profit – while working in the energy and renewables industries. After work with geothermal and natural gas resources, Chris spent nearly 10 years working in the solar industry where he was part of a team that offered residential, commercial, and utility-scale solar solutions in more than 20 countries. Later, in private practice as an attorney, he advised entrepreneurs and early-stage companies in a variety of industries, including renewables and smart energy. Chris also found inspiration in innovative architecture and communities that balanced design with the location, materials with the environment, and scale with purpose – places like Paolo Soleri’s Arcosanti and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West while Chris lived in Arizona. He was later inspired by The Sea Ranch, a community in northern California internationally known for its distinctive architecture, the sensitivity of its land planning, and community-based stewardship of the natural environment, where Chris lived part-time and served on the local board. Chris generously endowed this scholarship to inspire and enable the opportunities presented by students who are passionate about sustainability.
About The Scholarship
The purpose of the gift is to provide scholarships for honors students with a passion for sustainability. Jaap said gifts from the endowment will be targeted towards “mission-driven Barrett students who intend to address specific sustainability challenges on a local, regional, national, or global scale” with an emphasis on the so-called triple bottom line - People, Planet, Profit. Students may use the funding for tuition, research, and expenses related to the honors thesis, internship, study abroad, student and community engagement, and other activities. Jaap, who was a Flinn Scholar, said he chose to attend ASU largely because of the honors college, so giving back is only natural. “I was motivated by the idea that the endowment will grow over time and provide ongoing support for Barrett students indefinitely. The principle of investing in what we have today while protecting it for the future really speaks to me. My goal is to raise additional funds every year to grow the endowment over time, maximizing the investment in Barrett’s future,” Jaap said. The first Jaap Scholarship was received by an honors student working on a GlobalResolve project in a developing country.
How You Can Help
Through donating to the scholarship endowment, you are allowing generations of students to receive funding in order to achieve their sustainability goals. Barrett graduates will go into many fields that are focused on sustainability, including civic planning, environmental consultancy (built and natural environment), agriculture, not for profit, corporate strategies, health assessment and planning, and even into law and decision making. Entry-level jobs are growing and over the coming years, our graduates can expect more and more options and opportunities. Help them become better prepared for their careers and prevent them from experiencing a heavy financial burden after their graduation.
