Thirty-one GATE Students from Millview Elementary School in Madera will participate in a Water Technology Innovation Challenge and exhibit their invention prototypes at the Water Energy Technology (WET) Incubator at California State University, Fresno from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday, April 22.

The youth in grades 4 to 8 are part of Encourage Tomorrow, a nonprofit educational service provider. The program engages students in issues of sustainable local development by connecting them with resources necessary to propose innovative environmental solutions and become change agents in their communities.

GATE guides students through a structured engineering exploration program that teaches them to identify and equip themselves with the skills needed for future success through hands-on learning in a series of lessons. The focus is on product development, innovation and entrepreneurship, specifically related to environmental engineering and water technology.

Representatives from the Claude Laval Corporation and Laval Underground Surveys will be present to judge each team’s product presentation and prototype.

For additional information, contact Ann Kaufher at Encourage Tomorrow, 559.233.2880 orakaufher@encouragetomorrow.org.

Encourage Tomorrow is a non-profit that offers an array of high-quality after-school program services geared towards facilitating school efforts. Programs focus on improving student’s attitudes toward school, their work and personal habits, as well as their attendance and academic achievement. Students who participate discover their passions and talent, and begin to make the connection between hard work and moving on to higher education and careers.