The Coachella Valley’s KidWind Challenge grows to world’s largest regional event
A recent hands-on student wind turbine and solar device design competition in the Coachella Valley has become the world’s largest regional KidWind competition, sending 10 local student teams to the world competition in May.
Also in this week’s education roundup: Palm Springs Unified School District is seeking community support to offset high school students’ personal expenses at a forthcoming two-week college tour of historically Black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions; the public is invited to celebrate the new, expanded hub for entrepreneurs across the street from from CSUSB Palm Desert; and a day of inclusivity and joy at Desert Sands Unified School District’s second annual Adapted Physical Education Abilities Field Day.
Powering up the future: 10 local Coachella Valley teams advance to the World KidWind Challenge
More than 270 students from 89 teams across the Coachella Valley competed in the 15th annual Regional Coachella Valley KidWind Challenge on Feb. 22, with 10 teams advancing to the world challenge in Phoenix in May.
First held in the Coachella Valley in 2010 through OneFuture Coachella Valley, the regional KidWind event has grown into the world’s largest hands-on student wind turbine and solar device design competition, engaging students in STEM through clean energy. In 2024, Coachella Valley Unified School District won the Golden Bell Award for its long-standing districtwide participation and excellence in the K-12 KidWind program.
Alumni from Desert Hot Springs and Coachella Valley high schools’ KidWind programs, now pursuing degrees at UC Berkeley, Cal Poly Pomona and College of the Desert, returned as judges this year.
The following teams from CVUSD, Palm Springs Unified and Palo Verde Unified won the KidWind Coachella Valley 2025 Challenge, with asterisks marking those advancing to the KidWind World Challenge in May in Phoenix:
Elementary School Division
- First: The Skull Troopers, Valley View Elementary, CVUSD *
- Second: Windmasters, Peter Pendleton Elementary, CVUSD *
- Third: The Believers, Valley View Elementary, CVUSD
Middle School Division
- First: The Fireflies, Valley View Elementary, CVUSD *
- Second: Pacific Wind, Cahuilla Desert Academy, CVUSD *
- Third: The Hawks, Cahuilla Desert Academy, CVUSD *
- Additional Nationals Invitation: Blossom, Bobby Duke Middle, CVUSD *
High School Division
- First: Powerouters, Desert Hot Springs High, PSUSD *
- Second: The Desert Wind Rats, Desert Mirage High, CVUSD *
- Third: Santa Anna Winds, Palo Verde High, PVUSD *
- Additional Nationals Invitation: Air Bruzz, Coachella Valley High, CVUSD *
The following are the KidWind Coachella Valley winners of the local Power Output Awards:
Elementary Division
- First: The Skull Troopers, Valley View Elementary, CVUSD
- Second: Windmasters, Peter Pendleton Elementary, CVUSD
- Third: The Believers, Valley View Elementary, CVUSD
Middle School Division
- First: The Fireflies, Valley View Elementary, CVUSD
- Second: Green Energy, Bobby Duke Middle, CVUSD
- Third: Desert Gold, Bobby Duke Middle, CVUSD
High School Division
- First: Desert Wind Rats, Desert Mirage High, CVUSD
- Second: Powerouters, Desert Hot Springs High, PSUSD
- Third: Certified Steppers, Desert Hot Springs High, PSUSD