Students from Across Southern California to Compete in Nation’s Largest Solar-Powered Boat Competition May 18-20

Metropolitan’s 16th annual Solar Cup™ provides high school students hands-on lessons in water resources, alternative energy development and sustainability

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

WHAT:

 

More than 600 students from 38 Southern California high schools will race over three days solar-powered boats they built themselves this school year. The action-packed weekend is the culmination of a seven-month education program sponsored by The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Through the program, students applied the math, science and engineering lessons they’ve learned in the classroom to the real world challenge of building the fastest solar-powered boat possible.

 
After completing qualifying races on Friday, May 18, the single-man boats compete in two 90-minute endurance heats around a 1.6 kilometer course on Saturday, May 19 and two 200-meter sprint races on Sunday, May 20.
 

WHEN:

May 18-20, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
 

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 of Solar Cup features students, decked out in team shirts and hats, working on, launching and racing solar-powered, single-man boats. A media boat is available to take reporters, photographers and television/cable crews onto the lake for close-up footage. B-roll footage also is available via an FTP site. In addition, the competition includes student-produced water conservation videos and Snapchat social media campaigns.
 

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 a list of schools. Call for testing details and to arrange coverage before May 18.

BACKGROUND:

Solar Cup began in 2002 with eight teams and about 100 students. In the 16 years since, it has grown into the nation’s largest solar-powered boat competition. Along the way, more than 10,000 young men and women have participated in Solar Cup competitions, where they’ve learned about water resource management, alternative energy development and sustainability and been inspired to pursue careers in math, physics, engineering and environmental science.

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.

           

List of 2018 Solar Cup Teams

 

Member Agency Sponsor

   

Team/School Name

   

School District

   

City

Anaheim Public Utilities     Anaheim High School     Anaheim Union HS District     Anaheim
Burbank Water & Power     Burbank High School     Burbank USD     Burbank
Long Beach Water Department     Cabrillo High School**    

Long Beach USD

    Long Beach
Las Virgenes MWD     Calabasas High School     Las Virgenes USD     Calabasas
Inland Empire Utilities Agency*     Chino High School     Chino Valley USD     Chino
Municipal Water District of Orange County*     Coast High School     Huntington Beach Union HS District     Huntington Beach
City of Compton     Compton High School     Compton USD     Compton
Municipal Water District of Orange County*     Costa Mesa High School**     Newport Mesa USD     Costa Mesa
San Diego County Water Authority     Del Lago Academy     Escondido Unified HS District     Escondido
Central Basin MWD     Downey High School     Downey USD     Downey
Western MWD*     Elsinore HS / Lakeside HS     Lake Elsinore USD     Wildomar
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power     Franklin High School     Los Angeles USD     Los Angeles
Three Valleys MWD*     Fremont Academy of Engineering & Design     Pomona USD     Pomona
Three Valleys MWD*     Ganesha High School     Pomona USD     Pomona
Eastern MWD     Hemet USD Team     Hemet USD     Hemet
San Diego County Water Authority     High Tech High North County     San Marcos USD     San Marcos
Pasadena Water & Power     John Muir High School     Pasadena USD     Pasadena
San Diego County Water Authority     Kearny High School (School of Engineering, Innovation & Design)**     San Diego USD     San Diego
Foothill MWD*     La Cañada High School     La Cañada USD     La Cañada Flintridge
Upper San Gabriel Valley MWD     Los Altos High School     Hacienda La Puente USD     Hacienda Heights
Inland Empire Utilities Agency*     Los Osos High School     Cucamonga School District     Rancho Cucamonga
Long Beach Water Department     McBride High School     Long Beach USD     Long Beach
West Basin MWD     Mira Costa High School     Manhattan Beach USD     Manhattan Beach
Upper San Gabriel Valley MWD     Mountain View High School     El Monte Union HS District     El Monte
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power     Narbonne High School     Los Angeles USD     Harbor City
Western MWD*     Norte Vista High School     Riverside USD     Riverside
Eastern MWD     Nuview Bridge Early College HS     Nuview Union School District     Nuevo
Municipal Water District of Orange County*     Oxford Academy     Cypress School District     Cypress
West Basin MWD     Palos Verdes Peninsula High School     Palos Verdes Peninsula USD     Rolling Hills Estates
Central Basin MWD     Paramount High School West     Paramount USD     Paramount
Eastern MWD     Perris Union High SD Team (Heritage HS; Paloma Valley HS; Perris HS)     Romoland School District     Romoland
Western MWD*     Riverside Poly High School     Riverside USD     Riverside
Three Valleys MWD     San Dimas High School     Bonita USD     San Dimas
Long Beach Water Department     Sato High School     Long Beach USD     Long Beach
Inland Empire Utilities Agency*     Upland High School**     Chaffey Joing Union High SD     Upland
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power     Venice HS STEMM Magnet     Los Angeles USD     Los Angeles
West Basin MWD     Waterfront Education**     Los Angeles USD     Redondo Beach
Upper San Gabriel Valley MWD     West Covina High School     West Covina USD     West Covina
 
* = has co-sponsor(s)
** = Rookie

Contacts

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

Contacts

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