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

Samsung Electronics America (SEA) 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 received $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:

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