51 Schools Named State Winners in Samsung’s $2 Million* National STEAM Contest

RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J. – December 14, 2017 – Samsung Electronics America, Inc. has announced the 51 state winners in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest – a nationwide competition that challenges students to creatively use STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) skills to address real-world issues and inspire change in their local communities. This year’s projects include everything from apps promoting kindness and empathy, to automatic wildfire extinguishing systems, and technology to address the opioid epidemic.

The 51 state winners were selected from thousands of schools representing communities across the country. The winning classrooms were selected from the outstanding lesson plans submitted by teachers, outlining the projects students will undertake to solve a local issue using STEAM skills. As state winners, each of the 51 schools will receive a minimum of a $25,000* in Samsung technology for their achievement, and the 10 that progress to the national finalist stage will compete for the next round of prizes.

“This year’s Solve for Tomorrow state winners chose to tackle some of the most daunting obstacles and issues facing our planet and society today,” said Ann Woo, Senior Director of Corporate Citizenship, Samsung Electronics America. “I am truly awed by the thoughtfulness and originality behind the ideas put forth by these students and teachers to take on issues ranging from the environment to health and community-building. The proposed solutions use complex technologies and systems, like connected technologies, virtual reality and augmented reality, in unexpected and creative ways. Through a contest that inspires collaboration and creativity, these kids are showing that with imagination and empathy, the sky is the limit when it comes to making an impact.”

At this phase of the contest, the state winners will work on their STEAM projects in the classroom and, with a Samsung-provided video kit, each school will create a video of their project in action and how it addresses the real-world issue they’re aiming to solve.

Schools have until February 13, 2018 to work on their projects and submit their video, in hopes of advancing in the contest to proceed through the following remaining phases:

• National finalists: 10 national finalists will be selected to attend a Pitch Event where they will present their project to a panel of judges. For achieving national finalist status, 7 schools will receive a $50,000* Samsung technology package. The other three will progress to the national winner stage.
• National grand prize winners: 3 national winners will be selected and each will receive a $150,000* Samsung technology package.
• Community Choice Award: All of the 10 national finalists will be eligible to win an additional $20,000* Samsung technology package based on social media voting.

The state winners are:

For Official Rules and judging criteria, click here.

The Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest was created in 2010 to encourage innovation among young students while addressing the technology gap in classrooms across the country. Since 2001, Samsung has provided more than $60 million to more than 1,200 public schools and community organizations in the United States through its many citizenship initiatives.

To learn more, please visit www.samsung.com/solve or follow the contest on Instagram @SolveForTomorrow.

*Prize is based on an estimated retail value.