On Thursday, May 18, 2017, students from Downtown College Prep Alum Rock High School, San Jose, CA, showcased their STEAM knowledge at the school’s Engineering Showcase. The participants included 4 seniors who were national winners of the 2015 Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest, a win that introduced new STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) opportunities to students and led to the school’s first Engineering Showcase.The school’s Engineering Showcase is a culmination of a year-long engineering class where students work independently, with the guidance of their teachers, to create new inventions that can help mitigate issues in their local community – a program that was modeled after the Solve for Tomorrow Contest.  The showcase allows students to pitch their ideas to peers, parents, and local engineers, including representatives from Samsung Research America and Marc Ketzel, Vice President of Human Resources, Samsung Research America, who has been on the board of the school’s engineering program since its inception in 2016.

Samsung Solve for tomorrow Downtown prep dcp

Senior Maya D., who was a part of the 2014-2015 Samsung Solve for Tomorrow winning team, presents her final project for Advanced Engineering.

“I believe that the partnership with Samsung has shown our students the opportunities available within engineering and how to get involved in the tech industry, so they start to see themselves as the innovators,” said Terri Furton, Principal at Downtown College Prep.

All 4 students of the 2015 Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest winners from Downtown College Prep who are now seniors will be attending college in the fall and pursuing STEAM related majors, two of which will be focusing on engineering specifically.

“The diversity, the drive, the passion that we’ve seen in some of the students is very exciting for companies like Samsung who can tap into that talent in the future.”

– Marc Ketzel, Vice President of Human Resources, Samsung Research America

“Now that our students from the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest are graduating, everyone recognizes them for it,” said Luis Ruelas, Engineering Teacher at Downtown College Prep. “Being the first in your family to go to college is a big deal.”

Engineering students from DCP Alum Rock High School present their project prototype to Samsung engineers who provide feedback.

Engineering students from DCP Alum Rock High School present their project prototype to Samsung engineers who provide feedback.

“As sophomores we went into this competition and it really set the bar and heightened the expectations for our classmates and our peers,” said Maya D., senior student at Downtown College Prep and 2015 Samsung Solve for Tomorrow winner.

“My interest in the science field has definitely grown a lot more… now I plan on majoring in cognitive science. I don’t think I would have ever even thought about it if it wasn’t for Solve for Tomorrow,” said Michelle D., senior student at Downtown College Prep and 2015 Samsung Solve for Tomorrow winner.

Part of winning the 2015 Solve for Tomorrow Contest, Downtown College Prep received $125,000 worth of Samsung products to help facilitate further education for the students.  As a result, Downtown College Prep was able to add 3 new engineering courses to the school’s curriculum.

“Technology nowadays is advancing more and more rapidly, and it’s great to see the diversity that exists here at Downtown College Prep, because the problems of tomorrow are going to be different than the problems of today and I think the diversity that’s here, the drive, the passion that we’ve seen in some of the students is very exciting for companies like Samsung who can tap into that talent in the future,” said Marc Ketzel, Vice President of Human Resources, Samsung Research America.

Samsung hosts the Solve for Tomorrow Contest each school year to challenge 6th through 12th graders to solve an issue in their community using STEAM. The contest challenges high school students to create solutions for real world problems within their local communities using STEAM. Each year, the competition inspires more active, hands-on teaching and learning among schools nationwide.

As part of Samsung’s commitment to advancing education and encouraging the next generation of innovators, the company hosts the annual Solve for Tomorrow contest beginning every fall. To learn more about the contest, please visit Samsung.com/solve.