Samsung Awards $20,000 in Technology to 51 Public Schools Across the U.S. to Support STEM Learning Through Projects that Address Community Issues

From eliminating pedestrian fatalities through a smart watch app to designing a mobile shelter and heat source for a traditionally nomadic community, Samsung’s $2 million technology grant competition unleashes student creativity and their passion to help
Dec 9, 2015 1:00 PM ET

RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J., December 9, 2015 /3BL Media/ – Samsung Electronics America (SEA) today announced the 51 state winners of the 6th annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest (#SamsungSolve), the company’s $2 million* flagship program that supports its nationwide initiative to boost enthusiasm for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education among students in grades K-12 in partnership with BrainPOP, Adobe and the National Environmental Education Foundation.

Each of the 51 schools, chosen from more than 4,100 entries, receive $20,000* in Samsung technology – including a Samsung GALAXY Camera™, ATIV Book 9 laptop and Adobe Elements software – to create a 2-minute video about their project that addresses the contest challenge: Show how STEM can help improve your community.

“We couldn’t be more excited about this year’s state winners,” said Ann Woo, who directs Corporate Citizenship for Samsung Electronics America. “The breadth of project topics ranging from eliminating pedestrian fatalities in urban areas to designing a mobile shelter to keep the traditions of a community with a nomadic heritage alive and everything in between – all through the application of science and technology truly speak to Samsung’s roots in creating innovations that matter, the kind that improve people’s lives in tangible ways. We look forward to helping these students and teachers build greater STEM competency both in and out of their classrooms to empower them further.”

Those with the best videos advance to the next phase of the contest to become the 15 national finalists and win $40,000* for their school. As a national finalist, each school presents their projects to a live panel of judges and invited guests in March. How they perform is factored into the selection criteria for the five national winners who receive $120,000* for their school. Three of the five national winners are selected by a panel of judges, one by Samsung employees and one by online voters.

“It’s a learning opportunity that encourages customized teaching, students to excel in their areas of interest, and present and defend their work to experts and media,” said Tom Larsen, who led his class of Galena High School STEM Academy freshman in Reno, Nevada, to become a national winner last year. “I couldn’t have imagined the impact this would have on me personally, my students, our program, school and community. This was a school year none of us will ever forget.”

The Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest launched in 2010 to engage students in active, hands-on STEM learning as a response to trailing STEM skills among U.S. students. Since 2004, Samsung has invested more than $17 million* in technology to more than 1,200 public schools across the United States.

This year’s 51 state winners of the Solve for Tomorrow Contest are:

SCHOOL NAME

City

STATE

Akiuk Memorial School

Kasigluk

AK

Lawrence County High School

Moulton

AL

eSTEM Public Charter Schools

Little Rock

AR

Trevor G. Browne

Phoenix

AZ

Mission Valley ROP/ James Logan High School

Fremont

CA

Horizon Middle School

Aurora

CO

Engineering and Science University Magnet School

Hamden

CT

Eastern Senior High School

Washington

DC

Caesar Rodney High School

Camden

DE

Northeast High School

Oakland Park

FL

Tucker Middle School

Tucker

GA

James Campbell High School

Ewa Beach

HI

Maquoketa

Maquoketa

IA

Lakeside Jr/Sr High School

Plummer

ID

Monticello Middle School

Monticello

IL

Northwest High School

Indianapolis

IN

Jackson Heights High School

Holton

KS

Murray High School

Murray

KY

West Feliciana High School

St. Francisville

LA

Dr. Paul Nettle Middle School

Haverhill

MA

Worcester Technical High School

Newark

MD

Maine School of Science and Mathematics

Limestone

ME

University Prep Science and Math High School

Detroit

MI

Anoka Middle School for the Arts

Anoka

MN

Ridgewood Middle School

Arnold

MO

South Jones Elementary

Ellisville

MS

Lewistown Junior High School

Lewistown

MT

East Duplin High School

Beulaville

NC

Minto School District 20

Minto

ND

Omaha Northwest Magnet High School

Omaha

NE

Winnisquam Regional High school

Tilton

NH

Dr. Michael Conti School (PS 5)

Jersey City

NJ

Mescalero Apache School

Mescalero

NM

Anthony Saville Middle School

Las Vegas

NV

Brooklyn Technical High School

Brooklyn

NY

Coventry High School

Akron

OH

Wewoka Middle School

Wewoka

OK

Gateways High School

Springfield

OR

Burrell High School

Lower Burrell

PA

East Greenwich High School

East Greenwich

RI

W.J. Keenan High School

Columbia

SC

Newell High School

Newell

SD

West End Middle School

Nashville

TN

Graham High School

Graham

TX

Willowcreek Middle School

Lehi

UT

Loudoun Valley High School

Purcellville

VA

Lake Region Union High School

Orleans

VT

Waterville High School

Waterville

WA

Lincoln Middle School

Kenosha

WI

Andrew Jackson Middle School

Cross Lanes

WV

Wheatland Middle School

Wheatland

WY

 

 

For more information about Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, please visit samsung.com/solve.

For more information about Samsung’s Corporate Citizenship efforts, please visit samsung.com/citizenship.

*Estimated Retail Value

 

About Samsung Electronics America, Inc.

Headquartered in Ridgefield Park, N.J., Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (SEA), is a recognized innovation leader in consumer electronics design and technology. A wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., SEA delivers a broad range of digital consumer electronics, mobile products and wearables, wireless infrastructure, IT and home appliance products. Samsung is the market leader for HDTVs in the U.S and one of America’s fastest growing home appliance brand. To discover more, please visit www.samsung.com.

 

 

CONTACT:

Danielle Meister Cohen

Samsung Electronics America

201-373-7554

D2.Cohen@sea.samsung.com

 

Lindsay Hyman

Allison+Partners

202-591-1127

SamsungSFT@allisonpr.com