After seven months of hard work, ingenuity and collaboration, more than 400 students from 40 Southern California high schools will put solar-powered boats they built to the test during Metropolitan Water District of Southern California's 17th annual Solar Cup. The teams from San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties will spend a weekend at Lake Skinner in the Temecula Valley, where they will race their 16-foot-long, solar-powered boats.

WHEN: May 17-19, 8:00am-4:00pm

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

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 social media campaigns.

Solar Cup began in 2002 with eight teams and about 100 students. In the 17 years since, it has grown into the nation's largest solar-powered boat competition. Students learn about water resource management, alternative energy development and sustainability and have been inspired to pursue degrees and careers in math, physics, engineering and environmental science.

Metropolitan Water District of Southern California | www.mwdh2o.com