Help Us Change Lives: Support YVHS InvenTeam’s MIT Journey

Imagine a world where something as simple as holding a pencil, pressing a button, or expressing emotions and intentions through gestures is out of reach. Now, imagine being the one to change that.

We are the Ygnacio Valley High School Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam , a passionate group of students on a mission to empower individuals with limited hand mobility by designing an innovative solution that restores independence and dignity. Our project isn’t just about engineering—it’s about unlocking potential, breaking barriers, and giving people the ability to do what so many of us take for granted.

Out of hundreds of applicants across the nation, we are 1 of only 8 teams selected—and the only team in California—to receive the prestigious Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam grant. This opportunity allows us to develop life-changing technology and present our work at MIT’s EurekaFest® on June 11, 2025. But getting there requires more than just innovation—it requires support from people like you.

Our team is mentored by Joseph Alvarico , the 2024 California Teacher of the Year and founder of Project 212 (YVHS’s nationally recognized robotics team), and Tabatha Box, our dedicated math teacher and International Baccalaureate (IB) coordinator. With their guidance, we are pushing boundaries and proving that high school students can be forces of real-world change.

But we can’t do it alone. Your donation will directly support our team’s journey—covering travel, materials, and resources to bring our invention to life and fund future innovations coming from the Ygnacio Valley High School Engineering Pathway. More importantly, it will fuel the dreams of young innovators who believe in using STEM to make a difference.

Every contribution, no matter the size, helps us take one step closer to MIT—and one step closer to changing lives. Join us in proving that innovation, compassion, and community can transform the future.

Thank you for believing in us. Thank you for investing in the power of young minds. Together, we can make the impossible possible.