RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J. – March 4, 2019 – Today, Samsung Electronics America, Inc., announced the 10 national finalists in the 9th annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest. The nationwide competition challenges students in grades 6-12 to use STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills to address local issues and inspire change in their communities. Each national finalist school will receive $50,000* in Samsung technology and classroom supplies, and a trip to the National Finalist Pitch Event in New York City to compete for the grand prize.

The topics addressed by students around the U.S. are some of the biggest issues the country is facing today – from reducing the carbon footprint to securing classrooms during a school shooting. Fifty state winner schools submitted a three-minute video showcasing how their projects address a critical community issue, and the top 10 national finalists were selected for their ingenuity.

“From school safety to climate change, these students experienced challenges that affect our nation as a whole, but rather than sitting on the sidelines, they have become changemakers,” said Ann Woo, Senior Director of Corporate Citizenship, Samsung Electronics America. “Samsung Solve for Tomorrow challenges students to create high-impact, functional solutions. Each of these national finalists answered the call beyond our imaginations, and we look forward to seeing their world-changing STEM innovations in action this April.”

Student representatives from the 10 national finalist schools will travel to New York City to pitch their projects to a panel of judges at Samsung 837 on Monday, April 1 and share their ideas with the public at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum on Tuesday, April 2. Judges will select three national grand prize winners who will receive $100,000* in technology and classroom supplies for their school. At the Intrepid Museum, the national finalists will join other students and educators, technologists, and NGO leaders for educational sessions, networking and demonstrations to further explore the difference STEM can make in their lives. In addition, all 40 state winner teachers will receive an invitation to attend and participate in professional development opportunities and workshops that can impact future STEM projects.

Using social media voting, the general public will also elect one Community Choice Winner from the pool of national finalists to receive an additional $10,000* in Samsung technology for their school. Anyone throughout the country can vote on social media for their favorite school and project. To participate, simply view the videos on the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow website, then cast a vote once a day, before voting closes at 11:59 p.m. EST on March 27, 2019.

The 10 national finalists in the 9th annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest are:

SchoolCity, StateSTEM Project Video
Los Altos High School Hacienda Heights, CaliforniaConstructed an affordable and environmentally-safe trap to combat the increase in Tiger Mosquitoes carrying incurable diseaseshttps://youtu.be/aMBFYR8hb8s
Concord High SchoolWilmington, DelawareDesigned assistive learning devices to help students with disabilities succeed in the classroomhttps://youtu.be/FrUjFh5vZqs
Goddard High School Goddard, KansasDesigned a GPS-enabled device for at-risk foster children to contact authorities in case of an emergency https://youtu.be/79EJJTKw3hI
ENLACE at Lawrence High SchoolLawrence, MassachusettsDesigned a device to help prevent natural gas explosions that recently destroyed local homeshttps://youtu.be/U3P10Fcr0Hg
Owensville High School Owensville, MissouriDesigned a lock to quickly secure a classroom in the event of a school shooting https://youtu.be/eQ3bkoOzrCY
Holly Grove Middle School Holly Springs, North CarolinaCreated a smart school bus stop sign to alert drivers before the bus arrives to help prevent pedestrian accidentshttps://youtu.be/sOHxZvsAg9s
Northern Cass Middle School Hunter, North DakotaDeveloped an app that modernizes the 911 system by using video to prepare first responders before they arrive on the scenehttps://youtu.be/rDRz2Ci_FK0
Fairfield High School Fairfield, OhioCreated an app-controlled and solar-powered car defrosting device to reduce carbon dioxide emissionshttps://youtu.be/ayntI7ZT0jw
Richland Two Institute of Innovation Columbia, South CarolinaCreated electromagnetic door locks and curtains to quickly secure classrooms in the event of a school shootinghttps://youtu.be/gJvMVsGHiE8
Deep Creek Middle School Chesapeake, VirginiaCreated a website and app for high-need students with poor vision to access free prescription glasseshttps://youtu.be/VF_nNUnuY18

Each of the 50 state winners also collaborated with Samsung employees who volunteered to advise on projects and offer their expertise as project mentors. These mentors participated in informative webinars, Q&A sessions, one-on-one Skype conversations, in-person meetings and more to help expand prototype possibilities.

The Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest was launched in 2010 to encourage innovation among young students while addressing the technology gap in classrooms across the country. This contest has since provided more than $23 million in technology to more than 1,700 schools nationwide.

To learn more about the national finalists, please visit www.samsung.com/solve or follow the contest on Instagram @SolveForTomorrow. For official rules and judging criteria, click here.

*Estimated Retail Value
**A previous version of this press release incorrectly stated the contest was launched in 2009.