National Finalists Announced in the 10th Annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest; Students to Pitch Their Projects at New York City Event
RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Today, Samsung Electronics America, Inc., announced the 20 National Finalists in the 10th annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest, which challenges students in grades 6-12 to use STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) to inspire change in their communities. Each National Finalist school will receive $50,000* in Samsung technology and classroom supplies, and a trip to New York City to pitch their project to a panel of judges to compete for the grand prize.
For the past few months, hundreds of students from every corner of the country have been building prototypes, apps, machines and more, to address some of the most pressing challenges in their local communities. Tackling issues ranging from sustainability to climate change, the 20 classrooms selected as National Finalists in this year’s contest are shining a light on topics of national importance from the perspective of students who face them at the community level on a daily basis. In celebration of the 10th anniversary, Samsung increased the prize pool by $1 million and awarded twice as many schools the title of National Finalist.
“The world of technology has evolved rapidly over the last decade but the ability to think outside the box and approach problems from new angles continues to be a critical skillset for the next generation. Ten years ago, Solve for Tomorrow set out to inspire students through bridging STEM and social impact, and this year’s National Finalists are addressing our nation’s biggest challenges head-on,” said Ann Woo, Senior Director of Corporate Citizenship at Samsung Electronics America. “At Samsung, our guiding vision is ‘Together for Tomorrow! Enabling People,’ through which we are committed to fostering the education of future generations and are ensuring they’re prepared to develop creative solutions in this technology-driven world thanks to the problem-based learning model Solve for Tomorrow promotes.”
Student representatives from the 20 National Finalist schools will travel to New York City to pitch their projects to a panel of judges in the quest to be named one of five National Grand Prize Winners. These five schools will receive $100,000* in technology and classroom supplies for their school along with a trip to Washington, D.C. to present their projects to members of Congress.
The general public will also elect one Community Choice Winner from the pool of National Finalists to receive an additional $10,000* in Samsung technology for their school. Anyone throughout the country can vote online for their favorite school and project. To participate, simply view the videos on the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow website and cast your vote. Voting is permitted once a day until 11:59 p.m. EST on Monday, March 30, 2020.
2019-2020 National Finalists:
|
School |
City, State |
STEM Project |
Video |
|
George Junior High School |
Springdale, Arkansas |
Created a therapeutic virtual reality experience to relieve the symptoms for veterans or other amputees that suffer from limb pain. |
|
|
North Pole Middle School |
North Pole, Alaska |
Created a wearable device for students with ADHD to help mitigate distractions and keep them engaged in learning. |
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Blue Ridge Junior High School |
Lakeside, Arizona |
Designed a sensor for water catchment tanks to provide wildlife with water as the southwestern U.S. continues to face ongoing drought. |
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|
Dougherty Valley High School |
San Ramon, California |
Designed a device to detect and relay information of potential wildfires to local fire departments to help prevent fires, save lives, and reduce carbon emissions. |
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|
Chawanakee Academy Charter School |
O’Neals, California |
Created a smart mask to protect local residents affected by poor air quality from wildfires. |
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|
Newark Charter School |
Newark, Delaware |
Created a backpack clip to share real-time alerts with students in case of an intruder or fire in the school. |
|
|
Downtown Doral Charter Upper School |
Doral, Florida |
Designed a device to detect sediment build-up in local drains and alert with local officials to help prevent future flooding. |
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Center Grove High School |
Greenwood, Indiana |
Developed low-cost wall insulation to help families in mobile homes stay warm and lower their energy costs. |
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|
Goddard High School |
Goddard, Kansas |
Created a safe lock notification system to alert owners of unauthorized and attempted access to gun safes. |
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Ashland Middle School |
Ashland, Kentucky |
Designed a device to help mobility-impaired students escape a multi-level building in a fire, and an app to alert school officials of their location. |
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North Carolina School of Science and Math |
Durham, North Carolina |
Developed an app that uses AI to help people identify recyclables and waste to reduce contamination at recycling sites. |
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Northern Cass School |
Hunter, North Dakota |
Designed a carbon monoxide detector that can be affixed to smartphones to alert residents of high levels wherever they go. |
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Belleville High School |
Belleville, New Jersey |
Developed an app to identify lead ions in water to help prevent lead poisoning. |
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|
Edward C. Reed High School |
Sparks, Nevada |
Developed an app and device to help calm students when they are feeling anxious. |
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|
Gregorio Luperon High School for Science and Math |
New York, New York |
Designed a smart helmet and bicycle system to provide real-time information to cyclists about their surroundings to make biking safer. |
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Liberty Avenue Middle School |
Brooklyn, New York |
Created a sensor for vaping devices to test harmful additives and an app to provide education and cessation information. |
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Fairfield High School |
Fairfield, Ohio |
Developed a device and app to reduce the risk of pediatric heat stroke by immediately alerting car owners when a child is left inside of a vehicle. |
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Central Magnet School |
Murfreesboro, Tennessee |
Designed an app to monitor driving distractions and help drivers improve their driving habits. |
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Loudoun Valley High School |
Purcellville, Virginia |
Designed a smart stop sign to help prevent rolling stops and ensure pedestrian safety. |
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|
Omro High School |
Omro, Wisconsin |
Built a robot to better measure ice thickness and keep winter enthusiasts safe on the ice. |
Launched in 2010, Solve for Tomorrow is a unique competition that encourages innovative thinking, creative problem-solving and teamwork to discover and nurture social innovation ideas aimed at resolving society’s most pressing problems. Since its inception, the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest has awarded $15 million in Samsung technology and classroom materials to more than 2,200 public schools in the United States.
To learn more about the National Finalists, please visit www.samsung.com/solve or follow the contest on Instagram @SolveForTomorrow. For official rules and judging criteria, click here.
*$3 million prize is based on an estimated retail value.
**Includes all 50 states. Schools from Maryland and Washington, D.C. were eligible for the Maryland/D.C. National Finalist award.
About Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
Headquartered in Ridgefield Park, N.J., Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (SEA), is a leader in mobile technologies, consumer electronics, home appliances and enterprise solutions. A wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., SEA is pushing beyond the limits of today’s technology and providing consumers and organizations with a portfolio of groundbreaking products and services across mobile devices, connected appliances, home entertainment, 5G networks and digital solutions. To discover more about Samsung, please visit www.samsung.com. For the latest Samsung news, please visit news.samsung.com/us and follow us @SamsungNewsUS.
Contacts
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SamsungSFT@allisonpr.com