Samsung Honors 300 U.S. Schools as State Finalists in the Solve for Tomorrow STEM Competition, Advancing Toward Share of $2 Million in Prizes

Samsung Electronics America today honored 300 public middle and high schools from all 50 states across America as State Finalists in the 15th annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow national STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) competition. Each State Finalist school has won a $2,500 Samsung technology prize package, an initial milestone on the path toward becoming one of three National Winners that will each unlock $100,000 for their school. Overall, Samsung will award more than $2 million* in prizes to this year’s participating schools. The full list of State Finalists can be viewed at Samsung.com/Solve.

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is among the most awarded national STEM competitive programs, recently recognized with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Citizens Award for Best Commitment to Education Program, the Digiday Greater Good Award for Education, and a coveted Silver Anthem Award for Community Engagement and CSR. The education-based citizenship initiative empowers students in grades 6–12 to leverage the power of STEM to create innovative solutions addressing critical issues in their local communities. The competition engages Gen Z and Gen Alpha students to catalyze positive change by applying Problem-based Learning (PBL) principles, environmental stewardship, and social impact entrepreneurship to tackle some of society’s most pressing challenges. By promoting active, hands-on learning, Solve for Tomorrow makes STEM more tangible for young learners, and opens doors to future opportunities in STEM education and careers.

Finalists Showcase a Dedication to Tackling Real-World Challenges with Emerging Tech

The 300 State Finalists were selected from thousands of applications across all 50 U.S. States and the District of Columbia. Nearly three-quarters of entries came from teachers new to the Solve for Tomorrow competition; more than a third were from middle schools; and 60% represented Title 1 institutions – highlighting the widespread interest among educators and students in harnessing STEM’s power to promote the common good, beyond the perception of STEM as a field limited to elite or privileged communities. This diversity also underscores Samsung’s commitment to advancing equity in education.

Meanwhile, the next generation of changemakers—Gen Z and Gen Alpha students in middle and high schools—are stepping up to confront the world’s most urgent issues, a commitment reflected in their Solve for Tomorrow project proposals. An impressive 33% of these projects focus on the climate crisis, taking on critical challenges like extreme weather events (hurricanes, floods, wildfires), sustainable building materials to withstand damage, and alternative energy sources such as wind turbines, solar power, and kinetic energy. Mental health and wellness, particularly addressing the impacts of social media and stress, along with school safety, are also prominent themes among student projects.

Moreover, 60% of these solutions harness emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), 3D printing, and robotics, showcasing how young innovators are leveraging cutting-edge tools to drive meaningful change. AI, in particular, plays a key role, with students applying it in healthcare for early cancer detection and health monitoring, enhancing accessibility for the visually impaired, and improving language translation.

“Solve for Tomorrow has long embodied Samsung’s strategy, purpose, and values,” said Salman Taufiq, Director – Corporate Marketing, Samsung Electronics America. “From our roots as a small television manufacturer in the 1960s to becoming a global technology leader, STEM has been part of our DNA. As we celebrate 15 years of Solve for Tomorrow, we are proud to continue our commitment to ensuring America’s students stay engaged in STEM education and pursue careers in this field. These State Finalist teams are answering that call by engaging technology for good, like their quick adoption of AI to power wide-ranging solutions that address not only pressing challenges in their communities but also global issues.”

Upcoming Competition Phases

For the next phase of the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition, teachers must create a focused activity plan. Plans must outline how students will execute their STEM project by defining the community problem, proposing a STEM-based solution, specifying objectives, detailing activities to reach their anticipated goals, and articulating the expected positive impact their solution will bring to the community. Activity plans are due Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Based on these activity plans, judges will select State Winners, who will be revealed in March 2025.

*$2 million prize is based on an estimated retail value.