Nearly 1,000 Southland High School Students to Compete in Nation’s Largest Solar-Powered Boat Competition

Metropolitan’s 14th annual Solar Cup gives students hands-on education in water conservation and alternative energy, inspiring careers in science, math and engineering

--()--Metropolitan Water District of Southern California:

WHAT:

  Three-day Solar Cup™ competition of more than 600 of the region’s brightest students from 38 high school teams racing solar-powered boats they built. The event is the culmination of a year-long education program sponsored by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California in which students learn about water conservation, alternative energy, engineering, math and science.

Note: Student teams are putting the final touches on their boats and will test them in the water in various locations this weekend and next week. See attached sheet for details and call to arrange interviews/video/photo coverage before May 13.

 

WHEN:

8 a.m. to 4 p.m., May 13-15
 

WHERE:

Lake Skinner, Temecula Valley. Take Interstate 15 to Rancho California Road at Temecula, go 10 miles northeast to main gate, following signs to site.
 

VISUALS:

Each day features students, many in coordinated team colors, working on, launching and racing solar-powered boats. Competition includes student-produced, 60-second water conservation videos and social media campaigns. Media boat is available to take reporters, photographers and television/cable crews onto lake for close-up footage. B-roll footage is available via FTP site.

BACKGROUND:

Solar Cup, which began in 2002 with eight teams and about 80 students, has become the nation’s largest solar-powered boat competition. Along the way, about 10,000 students have participated in Solar Cup competitions, some of whom have gone on to careers in math, physics, engineering and environmental science after learning about water resource management and alternative energy development in the hands-on program.

More information, photos and footage available mwdh2o.com/inthecommunity

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a state-established cooperative of 26 cities and water agencies serving nearly 19 million people in six counties. The district imports water from the Colorado River and Northern California to supplement local supplies, and helps its members to develop increased water conservation, recycling, storage and other resource-management programs.

Team/School Name   City   Member Agency Sponsor   Testing boat on water (available for photos/video)
Academia Avance   Los Angeles   Los Angeles DWP    
Alliance Collins Family College Ready HS**   Huntington Park   Central Basin MWD    
Anaheim High School   Anaheim   Anaheim Public Utilities    
Arcadia High School   Arcadia   Upper San Gabriel Valley MWD    
Burbank High School   Burbank   Burbank Water & Power   Hansen Dam, Sunday p.m.
Calabasas High School   Calabasas   Las Virgenes MWD    
Chino High School   Chino   Inland Empire Utilities Agency*    
Chino Hills High School   Chino Hills   Inland Empire Utilities Agency*    
Coast High School   Huntington Beach   Municipal Water District of Orange County*    
Compton High School   Compton   City of Compton    
David Gonzales School   Calabasas   Las Virgenes MWD    
Del Lago Academy   Escondido   San Diego County Water Authority    
Downey High School   Downey   Central Basin MWD    
Elsinore HS / Lakeside HS   Wildomar   Western MWD*    
Franklin High School   Los Angeles   Los Angeles DWP    
Ganesha High School   Pomona   Three Valleys MWD    
Hemet USD Team   Hemet   Eastern MWD   Lake Skinner, Saturday
High Tech High North County   San Marcos   San Diego County Water Authority    
John Muir High School   Pasadena   Pasadena Water & Power    
Kaiser High School**   Fontana   Inland Empire Utilities Agency*    
La Cañada High School   La Cañada Flintridge   Foothill MWD*    
Laguna Beach High School   Laguna Beach   Municipal Water District of Orange County*    
Lennox Academy   Lennox   West Basin MWD    
McBride High School   Long Beach   Long Beach Water Department    
Mountain View High School   El Monte   Upper San Gabriel Valley MWD    
Nogales High School   La Puente   Three Valleys MWD   Puddingstone Reservoir, Sat.
Norte Vista High School   Riverside   Western MWD*    
Nuview Bridge Early College HS   Nuevo   Eastern MWD    
Palos Verdes High School   Palos Verdes Estates   West Basin MWD   Cabrillo Beach, Sat., 3 p.m.
Palos Verdes Peninsula High School   Rolling Hills Estates   West Basin MWD   School pool, Sun., 10 a.m.
Paramount High School West   Paramount   Central Basin MWD    
Perris Union High SD Team   Romoland   Eastern MWD   Lake Skinner, Sunday 10 a.m.
Providence High School   Burbank   Burbank Water & Power    
Riverside Poly High School   Riverside   Western MWD*    
Santana High School   La Puente   Three Valleys MWD    
Savanna High School   Anaheim   Anaheim Public Utilities   Santa Ana River Lakes, Mon., 3:30; Lake Skinner, Thurs.
Venice HS STEMM Magnet**   Los Angeles   Los Angeles DWP    
West Covina High School   West Covina   Upper San Gabriel Valley MWD    
     
* = has co-sponsor(s)
** = rookie team

Contacts

Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Rebecca Kimitch, (213) 217-6450; (202) 821-5253, mobile
or
Bob Muir, (213) 217-6930; (213) 324-5213, mobile

Contacts

Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Rebecca Kimitch, (213) 217-6450; (202) 821-5253, mobile
or
Bob Muir, (213) 217-6930; (213) 324-5213, mobile