A team of second and third grade students from Countryside Montessori, a Pasco charter school, won second place, K-3 division, in the national ToshibaNSTA Exploravision, a contest in which students research what they think technology will look like in the future.

The children — Erya Gualtieri, Catie Tomasello and Achyudhan Kutuva — came up with a solar energy system that mimics photosynthesis found in trees. Learn more about their Solar TREE project here.

They each win a $5,000 savings bond and will head to Washington D.C. in June to collect their awards and meet with members of Congress. Congrats.