With the goal of encouraging more students to pursue STEM studies (science, technology, engineering and math) and careers, each year Samsung Electronics America, Inc. based in Ridgefield, New Jersey holds a nationwide competition for students in grades 6-12, challenging them to develop STEM related projects that address local issues and inspire change in their communities.
Ann Woo, Senior Director of Corporate Citizenship, Samsung Electronics America, highlights the benefits of participating in the competition, stating. “From coast to coast, these students have taken charge of their future and we’re proud to see how they have creatively bridged STEM and social impact. We’re thankful to stand with and support another class of Solve for Tomorrow teachers and students as they set out to make an impact in their own communities and the world.”
This years’ 10 National Finalist schools in the 12th annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest were selected based on their students’ determination and ingenuity and how they addressed critical issues facing the country today. Areas of specific focus included sustainability, public health and accessibility.
Beginning this past December, 100 schools across the country were tasked with developing prototypes, apps and project videos to showcase their plans focusing on national challenges. From there student representatives from the 10 National Finalist classrooms were chosen to present their project to a judging panel who will select the one of three National Winners.
The competing teams are very motivated given that the prizes will go to the schools of the winners. Each of the ten National Finalist schools receive $50,000 in Samsung technology and classroom supplies. They then have the opportunity to pitch their project to a panel of judges for a chance to be named a National Winner and take home $100,000 in prizes which is a share of the $2 million in total prizes based on retail value.
In addition, the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) is a first time partner for the Solve for Tomorrow Sustainability Innovation award, spotlighting Samsung’s commitment to sustainability. One winner will be chosen by a panel of judges to win a $10,000 energy efficient Samsung technology prize package of products that will help them develop their project idea.
The teams also compete for two other awards: the Community Choice Winner and the Samsung Employee Choice Award. The former award involves the public voting online for the winner from the group of National Finalists. Voting is open until April 23rd. The winner receives an extra $10,000 for their school. The latter award is chosen by the voting of Samsung employees for $10,000, in addition to their vying for National Finalist and National Winner packages.
Princeton High School based in Princeton, New Jersey is one of the ten National Finalists. Their project “Alternative Energy and Sustainability – utilizes technology and an insect called the black soldier fly to bio-remediate food waste into usable products such as animal feed or as a substitute for palm oil in cosmetics. Their project’s video and the nine other competing teams are posted online for public voting through April 23rd.
Since the competition’s founding in 2010 Samsung has awarded $20 million in technology and classroom materials to over 2,500 public schools in the United States.
