Students and teachers from 15 public schools across the nation convened at the brand new Samsung 837 in New York City to present their community-based learning projects to a live panel of judges and guests on Tuesday, March 15.

From outfitting wounded warriors with prosthetics to filtering contaminated drinking water, these students and teachers demonstrated how they are tackling big problems and inspiring everyone with their passion, creativity and community spirit.

These 15 National Finalists in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrw Contest – a competition that challenges students and teachers to apply their science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills to address  an issue affecting their communities – were selected from more than 4,100 applicants nationwide and are eligible to win an estimated $120,000 in technology as one of five National Winners who will be announced in April.

Students Madisyn Robinson and Dakota Stout of Ridgewood Middle School in Arnold, Mo., present their project that uses reinforced cardboard to make stable classroom furniture for elementary school students with disabilities during the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Finalist Pitch Event on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in New York.

Students Madisyn Robinson and Dakota Stout of Ridgewood Middle School in Arnold, Mo., present their project that uses reinforced cardboard to make stable classroom furniture for elementary school students with disabilities during the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Finalist Pitch Event on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in New York.

Malcolm Miller of Loudoun Valley High School in Purcellville, VA, presents their solar powered alert system for nature trails at the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Finalist Pitch Event on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in New York.

Malcolm Miller of Loudoun Valley High School in Purcellville, VA, presents their solar powered alert system for nature trails at the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Finalist Pitch Event on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in New York.

Students Elizabeth Arseneau and Alec Kranig of Anoka Middle School for the Arts in Anoka, Minn. present their tiny home design for the homeless project during the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Finalist Pitch Event on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in New York.

Students Elizabeth Arseneau and Alec Kranig of Anoka Middle School for the Arts in Anoka, Minn. present their tiny home design for the homeless project during the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Finalist Pitch Event on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in New York.

Students Emma Givens and Nicholas Pate of Lawrence County High School in Moulton, Ala. present their bee hive design project that removes harmful pathogens that can harm bees during the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Finalist Pitch Event on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in New York.

Students Emma Givens and Nicholas Pate of Lawrence County High School in Moulton, Ala. present their bee hive design project that removes harmful pathogens that can harm bees during the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Finalist Pitch Event on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in New York.

Students Laura Shriner and Taylor Riggs of Waterville High School in Waterville, Wash., present their solar-powered heated sidewalk system for pedestrian safety during the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Finalist Pitch Event on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in New York.

Students Laura Shriner and Taylor Riggs of Waterville High School in Waterville, Wash., present their solar-powered heated sidewalk system for pedestrian safety during the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Finalist Pitch Event on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in New York.

Austin Kirkland and Melinda Hosang of Northeast High School in Oakland Park, Fla. present their rip current detection system to help reduce the number of fatalities due to dangerous rip currents during the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Finalist Pitch Event on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in New York.

Austin Kirkland and Melinda Hosang of Northeast High School in Oakland Park, Fla. present their rip current detection system to help reduce the number of fatalities due to dangerous rip currents during the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Finalist Pitch Event on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in New York.

Elizabeth Arseneau and Alec Kranig of Anoka Middle School for the Arts in Anoka, MN, present their tiny home design for the homeless project during the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Finalist Pitch Event on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in New York.

Elizabeth Arseneau and Alec Kranig of Anoka Middle School for the Arts in Anoka, MN, present their tiny home design for the homeless project during the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Finalist Pitch Event on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in New York.

Simon-Peter Frimpong and Grayson Fast of Horizon Middle School in Aurora, Colo., present their prosthetic enhancements for local wounded veterans during the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Finalist Pitch Event on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in New York.

Simon-Peter Frimpong and Grayson Fast of Horizon Middle School in Aurora, Colo., present their prosthetic enhancements for local wounded veterans during the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Finalist Pitch Event on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in New York.

Brooklyn Technical High School student Benjamin Spiegel demonstrates their smart watch app that warns pedestrians of oncoming traffic at the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Finalist Pitch Event on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in New York

Brooklyn Technical High School student Benjamin Spiegel demonstrates their smart watch app that warns pedestrians of oncoming traffic at the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Finalist Pitch Event on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in New York.

Shaneel Narayan and Jashene Tongco of Mission Valley ROP/James Logan High School of Fremont, CA, present solar powered charging station for electric vehicles at the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Finalist Pitch Event on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in New York.

Shaneel Narayan and Jashene Tongco of Mission Valley ROP/James Logan High School of Fremont, CA, present solar powered charging station for electric vehicles at the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Finalist Pitch Event on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in New York.

Gavin Weatherly and Devin Hammond of Wewoka Middle School in Wewoka, Okla. present their cost-efficient water filtration system to help clean the local, polluted water supply during the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Finalist Pitch Event on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in New York.

Gavin Weatherly and Devin Hammond of Wewoka Middle School in Wewoka, Okla. present their cost-efficient water filtration system to help clean the local, polluted water supply during the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Finalist Pitch Event on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in New York.

Cody Wesner and JaNae Hopkins of Lincoln Middle School in Kenosha, Wis. present their project to mitigate environmental impact by identifying rock salt de-icing alternatives during the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Finalist Pitch Event on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in New York.

Cody Wesner and JaNae Hopkins of Lincoln Middle School in Kenosha, Wis. present their project to mitigate environmental impact by identifying rock salt de-icing alternatives during the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Finalist Pitch Event on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in New York.

Xiao Yi Wu and Benjamin Markstone of East Greenwich High School in East Greenwich, R.I., present their biodegradable plastics project to counter the use of and litter from plastic materials during the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Finalist Pitch Event on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in New York.

Xiao Yi Wu and Benjamin Markstone of East Greenwich High School in East Greenwich, R.I., present their biodegradable plastics project to counter the use of and litter from plastic materials during the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Finalist Pitch Event on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in New York.

Madison Mitchell and Marlee Robinson of South Jones Elementary School in Ellisville, MS, present their school bus alarm system for pedestrian safety project at the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Finalist Pitch Event on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in New York.

Madison Mitchell and Marlee Robinson of South Jones Elementary School in Ellisville, MS, present their school bus alarm system for pedestrian safety project at the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Finalist Pitch Event on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in New York.

Bryan Bonilla Aguilera and Quinton Sandlin of East Duplin High School in Beulaville, N.C., present their boat cleaning system that helps prevent invasive species from entering local waterway during the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Finalist Pitch Event on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in New York.

Bryan Bonilla Aguilera and Quinton Sandlin of East Duplin High School in Beulaville, N.C., present their boat cleaning system that helps prevent invasive species from entering local waterway during the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Finalist Pitch Event on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in New York.

Gavin Weatherly and Devin Hammond of Wewoka Middle School in Wewoka, Okla. present their cost-efficient water filtration system to help clean the local, polluted water supply during the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Finalist Pitch Event on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in New York.

Gavin Weatherly and Devin Hammond of Wewoka Middle School in Wewoka, Okla. present their cost-efficient water filtration system to help clean the local, polluted water supply during the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Finalist Pitch Event on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in New York.

Students Lailany Maldonado and Nancy Do of Dr. Michael Conti School PS5 in Jersey City, N.J. demo their magnetic window screen prototype which helps reduce the amount of pollutants entering their school at the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Finalist Pitch Event on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in New York.

Students Lailany Maldonado and Nancy Do of Dr. Michael Conti School PS5 in Jersey City, N.J. demo their magnetic window screen prototype which helps reduce the amount of pollutants entering their school at the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Finalist Pitch Event on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in New York.

As one of 15 National Finalist schools the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest, students from Dr. Michael Conti School PS5 in Jersey City, N.J., Lailany Maldonado and Nancy Do, present their project to help reduce the amount of pollutants entering their school on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 at the contest’s Pitch Event at Samsung 837 in New York.

As one of 15 National Finalist schools the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest, students from Dr. Michael Conti School PS5 in Jersey City, N.J., Lailany Maldonado and Nancy Do, present their project to help reduce the amount of pollutants entering their school on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 at the contest’s Pitch Event at Samsung 837 in New York.

Students Alison Collard and Benjamin Spiegel of Brooklyn Technical High School in New York present their smart watch app that warns pedestrians of oncoming traffic at the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Finalist Pitch Event on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in New York.

Students Alison Collard and Benjamin Spiegel of Brooklyn Technical High School in New York present their smart watch app that warns pedestrians of oncoming traffic at the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Finalist Pitch Event on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in New York.

As one of 15 National Finalist schools the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest, students from Brooklyn Technical High School in New York, Alison Collard and Benjamin Spiegel, present their smart watch app that warns pedestrians of oncoming traffic to a panel of judges on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 at the contest’s Pitch Event at Samsung 837 in New York.

As one of 15 National Finalist schools the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest, students from Brooklyn Technical High School in New York, Alison Collard and Benjamin Spiegel, present their smart watch app that warns pedestrians of oncoming traffic to a panel of judges on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 at the contest’s Pitch Event at Samsung 837 in New York.