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.
