On Thursday, May 11, Good Morning America honored graduates from the class of 2017, highlighting standout students with unique stories and backgrounds. The segment featured students who are graduating from high school or college this year and showcased advice from celebrities—including Brad Paisley, Mark Cuban, Tony Robbins and Adam Sandler.  Samsung decided these graduates were well deserving of a gift to celebrate their success in education, so we gave all of the students a Samsung Galaxy Tablet.

“Our friends at Samsung are giving each of you one of Samsung’s Galaxy tablets,” announced host Robin Roberts to an audience of surprised students.

Good Morning America honored graduates of the class of 2017 - many of whom shared inspirational stories of how they overcame obstacles to earn their degrees.

Good Morning America honored graduates of the class of 2017 – many of whom shared inspirational stories of how they overcame obstacles to earn their degrees. (photo credit: ABC/Lorenzo Bevilaqua)

Samsung also brought along some very important guests.  Three Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest winning students were given VIP passes to sit in the studio for the live show: Anika Tasnim, Gabriella Florencio and Teriqq Plowden.  The contest challenges high school students to create solutions for real world problems within their local communities using STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math).  The students were part of a larger team from The Secondary School for Journalism in Brooklyn, NY, that created an app to help fellow students in need receive an after-school meal from local restaurants that might have otherwise gone to waste.

“We believe in our idea so much and we are just so grateful to be here,” said Gabriella Florencio.

All three students will be attending local NY colleges in the fall and plan to continue their efforts on building a network of restaurants that donate food and bringing their app live.  Good Morning America host Robin Roberts highlighted the students on air and Samsung was recognized for its long-standing commitment to education and Solve for Tomorrow Contest.

(Video Credit: ABC)