Samsung Solve For Tomorrow
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2014-2015 NATIONAL WINNERS!
Grand Prize 2014-2015
Downtown College Prep · California
"Don't Waste a Drop"
Water is a necessary component for survival and sustainability. Knowing this, combined with Santa Clara County imposing a mandated 20% reduction in water consumption, the students of Downtown College Prep get to work on a plan to help their community achieve this drastic drop in water usage. They work together to create and install a gray water system as well as a rain water storage system in a local home with the ultimate goal of helping the entire community use less water.
Grand Prize 2014-2015
Nicholson Elementary · Mississippi
"Robotic Storm Drain Expedition"
Flooding is the source of many problems within the community surrounding Nicholson Elementary. Scouring the drainage system which causes these issues is no easy task. Teaming up with a high school robotics team, these students create a working prototype which can navigate the local water drainage systems to discover flaws and suggest changes to the city planners for improved flood water control.
Grand Prize 2014-2015
Galena High School · Nevada
"Wheelchair Innovations"
Strength and motor skill disabilities can make some necessary daily tasks seem virtually impossible. The engineering students of Galena High School are inspired to help find solutions to the difficulties faced by fellow students who live with such disabilities. The students use their STEM knowledge and skills to create adaptive equipment for two of their classmates who bound to wheel chairs and experience various motor skill restrictions.
Community Choice Award 2014-2015
NWPA Collegiate Academy · Pennsylvania
"Vertical Veggies"
Fresh fruit and vegetables are limited resources in many communities across America. In addition to this, urban neighborhoods face the challenge of limited ability to counter food shortages by growing food in a garden. This doesn't stop the students of Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy from engineering a way to grow their own fresh produce. The students work together under the same guidelines as professional engineers to propose, develop and construct vertical gardens which take up far less space than traditional gardens, thus making them more practical for an urban environment such as Erie.
Samsung Staff Choice Award 2014-2015
Hudson's Bay High School · Washington
"A Delicious Way to Recycle"
The students of Hudson's Bay High School demonstrate how they can adapt paper waste for mycoremediation using mushroom mycelia. This advanced form of recycling allows these STEM students to produce a tangible result from their recycling efforts and even generate revenue. Using handheld technology and their background knowledge, students are able to track and monitor the data of their work and research.
We also want to congratulate our partner-sponsored award winners
Civic Engagement Award 2014-2015 Presented by Digital Promise
Frankie Woods McCullough Academy · Indiana
"Community Greens"
Indiana is not known for its lush vegetation and rolling green pastures. In fact, the students of Frankie Woods McCullough Academy live within a "food desert," in which growing fresh produce can be very difficult. To address this issue, these creative 6th graders plan to construct a community garden to not only help provide fresh produce for the locals, but also to strengthen the community bond by working to achieve a common goal.
Math Makes-It-Work Award Presented by DIRECTV
Ashley Ridge High School · South Carolina
"Flood Warning System"
Charleston, South Carolina is a low-lying coastal city that faces many flooding issues throughout the year due to sea level, heavy rains and tropical storms. During these flooding events, many motorists become stranded and incur damage to their vehicles due to rapid flooding or inability to gauge the depth of standing water on the road. Students apply STEM skills to provide advanced warning to motorists of dangerous flood conditions.
Environmental Innovation Award Presented by The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF)
Downtown College Prep · California
"Don't Waste a Drop"
Water is a necessary component for survival and sustainability. Knowing this, combined with Santa Clara County imposing a mandated 20% reduction in water consumption, the students of Downtown College Prep get to work on a plan to help their community achieve this drastic drop in water usage. They work together to create and install a gray water system as well as a rain water storage system in a local home with the ultimate goal of helping the entire community use less water.
Phase 1 (October-November):
Teachers from across the country complete the Solve for Tomorrow online application.
Phase 2 (November):
Five teachers per state plus the District of Columbia are selected to submit a lesson plan outlining how they will address the challenge, "Show how STEAM can be applied to help your local community."
Phase 3 (December-February):
One teacher per state will be chosen as a State Winner and receive a Samsung laptop to create a video showcasing their solution to the challenge. State Winners will receive a minimum of $25,000** in technology for their school.
Phase 4 (February-March):
Out of the 51 State Winners, ten National finalists will be chosen and their videos will be placed online for public voting. All National Finalists will receive a minimum of $50,000** in technology for their school.
Phase 5 (March):
Ten National Finalists will be narrowed down to three National Winners which will be selected by a panel of judges during an in-person event where all ten Finalists present their projects. One offshoot prize winner will be decided via online voting on Samsung.com/Solve. All three winners selected will receive a technology grant of $150,000**.
Phase 6 (March):
The three National Winners are invited to an awards celebration hosted in the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. – they will also have the opportunity to make a donation to the local nonprofit organization of their choice.
State Finalists
255 State Finalists will receive a Galaxy Tablet
State Winners
41 State Winners will receive $25,000** in Samsung technology
National Finalists
7 National Finalists will receive $50,000** in Samsung technology
National Winners
3 National Winners will receive $150,000** in Samsung technology and additional prizes from our partners
Samsung is dedicated to helping people discover a world of possibilities. We do this through products and technology that inspire passion and give consumers what they expect, and also what they have never dreamed was possible. With these practices in mind, Samsung started the Solve for Tomorrow education contest, giving schools across the U.S. the opportunity to raise interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) subjects among students by awarding their schools with a share of over $2 million** in technology.
See how Samsung Solve for Tomorrow helped to make change in one Alaskan Village Kokhanok Alaska Village
Senator Nydia Vasquez (D-NY) Speaks to 2013 Solve for Tomorrow School MS 88 in Brooklyn, NY
Encouraging Innovation and Working for a Better Tomorrow Solve for Tomorrow Winners from West Salem, OR
2013 Winner Forestview Middle School’s High Altitude Balloon
Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Finalists Present at SXSW EDU
“We hope that the challenge of this contest, together with the technology for winning schools, will help spark students’ passion to pursue careers that help improve the world through STEM.”
David Steel, EVP of Samsung Electronics North America
Q. Which schools are eligible to participate?
A. All publicly financed schools are eligible to participate. Charter schools that derive at least 50% of their operating funds from public sources are also eligible.
Q. Do I have to be a STEM teacher?
A. No, this contest is open to ALL teachers regardless of the subject taught. However, the topic of this contest does focus on STEM specifically.
Q. Does it matter what my class size is?
A. No, class size is not a factor.
Q. Do I have to break the class up into groups or can this be an exercise for the whole class?
A. How you divide your classes is entirely up to you. You should do what works best for your teaching style and the dynamic of your class.
Q. What will be included in the Video Kit sent out to the 51 State Finalist teachers?
A. Each State Finalist teacher will receive a package consisting of a Samsung camcorder and Samsung laptop. Each package will also include a copy of the Official Rules, an information sheet and all documents which must be completed and returned in order to participate in Phase Three.
Q. Do I have to use the products Samsung provides for making the video?
A. Yes, in order to keep an equal playing field among all participants, the equipment provided needs to be used.
Q. Do I have to return the equipment provided?
A. No, the State Finalist prize package is yours to keep.
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