Hannah Zhang ’27 has been recognized by the Global Online Academy for her Global Capstone project, ImpactBridge Consulting. Her project provides an operational framework and defined mission for a consulting firm guiding renewable energy developers working in African nations, including Burkina Faso and Niger.

“These countries face political instability and security challenges,” says Hannah. “But they also have a lot of long-term potential for renewable energy. A year ago, I watched a documentary about global population trends. I learned that by 2100, about 40% of the world’s population could live in Africa, and that 7 of the world’s 10 largest cities might be there. It made me realize that Africa is not just a place with struggles today, but a place with huge future potential.”

Taft is one of more than 150 Global Online Academy (GOA) member schools across 35 countries worldwide. GOA gives students access to a wide range of non-traditional courses, as well as a network of peers, teachers, and resources from across the globe. GOA students are global citizens and modern learners, working in an environment where curiosity and passion drive learning. Each GOA course culminates in a Global Capstone project. Hannah enrolled in the Academy’s Entrepreneurship course in the fall.

“Before my capstone project, I had already been researching renewable energy development in La Guajira, Colombia,” Hannah notes. “I was focusing on indigenous inclusion and the geopolitical challenges around building renewable energy projects there. At first, I wanted to continue that research for my Capstone; my teacher encouraged me to look at Africa instead and think about opportunities there.

“I was able to interview several people working in Africa, including a Dutch ambassador, a renewable energy developer, a Chinese construction company, and a Qatari investor. Based on those interviews and my research, I created a model for a consulting firm that would help renewable energy companies with things like land acquisition, contracts, financing, construction, and eventually exiting the project.”

This semester, GOA students submitted more 1,500 Global Capstone projects; only 64 were deemed “exemplary,” and selected for inclusion in the 2025-26 Global Capstone Showcase, Hannah’s among them.

“Hannah is highly deserving of recognition for her Capstone project because it reflects her consistently strong work ethic, reliability, and clear growth mindset throughout the course,” notes GOA Entrepreneurship Teacher Meagan Frazier. “She approached every stage of the project with focus and determination, steadily building a sophisticated and well-researched final product. ImpactBridge Consulting presents a thoughtful and ambitious vision for supporting solar-energy development in Africa, particularly in Burkina Faso and Niger, grounded in strong market data, real-world case studies, and expert interviews. Hannah clearly put in sustained effort to understand complex economic, political, and social factors, and she translated that research into a clear business model that addresses land access, contracts, finance, and construction barriers. Her project reflects not only a high level of discipline and hard work, but also Hannah’s maturity, curiosity, and commitment to producing work she can be proud of, making her a strong candidate for this recognition.”