{"id":76059,"date":"2024-12-03T10:00:23","date_gmt":"2024-12-03T15:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.samsung.com\/us\/?p=76059"},"modified":"2024-12-10T09:46:56","modified_gmt":"2024-12-10T14:46:56","slug":"samsung-honors-300-u-s-schools-as-state-finalists-in-the-solve-for-tomorrow-stem-competition-advancing-toward-share-of-2-million-in-prizes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/samsung-newsroom-production.barbariangroup.com\/us\/samsung-honors-300-us-schools-as-state-finalists-in-the-solve-for-tomorrow-stem-competition-advancing-toward-share-of-2-million-in-prizes\/","title":{"rendered":"Samsung Honors 300 U.S. Schools as State Finalists in the Solve for Tomorrow STEM Competition, Advancing Toward Share of $2 Million in Prizes"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Samsung Electronics America<\/strong> today honored 300 public middle and high schools from all 50 states across America as <strong>State Finalists <\/strong>in the 15th annual <a href=\"https:\/\/www.samsung.com\/us\/solvefortomorrow\/\"><strong>Samsung Solve for Tomorrow<\/strong><\/a> national STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) competition. Each State Finalist school has won a <strong>$2,500 Samsung technology prize package<\/strong>, an initial milestone on the path toward becoming one of three National Winners that will each unlock $100,000 for their school. Overall, <strong>Samsung will award more than $2 million* in prizes<\/strong> to this year\u2019s participating schools. The full list of <strong>State Finalists<\/strong> can be viewed <a href=\"https:\/\/image-us.samsung.com\/SamsungUS\/home\/solvefortomorrow\/11262024\/2024-2025_Samsung_Solve_for_Tomorrow_State_Finalists_Announcement_List_FINAL-1.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>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\u201312 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 <strong>Problem-based Learning (PBL) principles<\/strong>, <strong>environmental stewardship<\/strong>, and <strong>social impact entrepreneurship<\/strong> to tackle some of society&#8217;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.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-76150\" src=\"https:\/\/news.samsung.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Brandywine-High-School-DE-2023-2024-National-Winner-Rising-Entrepreneurship-Award-Winner-600x441.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"441\" srcset=\"https:\/\/img.us.news.samsung.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/03100018\/Brandywine-High-School-DE-2023-2024-National-Winner-Rising-Entrepreneurship-Award-Winner-600x441.jpg 600w, https:\/\/img.us.news.samsung.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/03100018\/Brandywine-High-School-DE-2023-2024-National-Winner-Rising-Entrepreneurship-Award-Winner-950x698.jpg 950w, https:\/\/img.us.news.samsung.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/03100018\/Brandywine-High-School-DE-2023-2024-National-Winner-Rising-Entrepreneurship-Award-Winner-1536x1129.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/img.us.news.samsung.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/03100018\/Brandywine-High-School-DE-2023-2024-National-Winner-Rising-Entrepreneurship-Award-Winner-2048x1505.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/img.us.news.samsung.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/03100018\/Brandywine-High-School-DE-2023-2024-National-Winner-Rising-Entrepreneurship-Award-Winner-631x464.jpg 631w, https:\/\/img.us.news.samsung.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/03100018\/Brandywine-High-School-DE-2023-2024-National-Winner-Rising-Entrepreneurship-Award-Winner-418x307.jpg 418w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<h5><strong>Finalists Showcase a Dedication to Tackling Real-World Challenges with Emerging Tech<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>The 300 State Finalists were selected from <strong>thousands of applications across all 50 U.S. States<\/strong> 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 \u2013 highlighting the widespread interest among educators and students in harnessing STEM\u2019s 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\u2019s commitment to advancing equity in education.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, the next generation of changemakers\u2014Gen Z and Gen Alpha students in middle and high schools\u2014are stepping up to confront the world\u2019s most urgent issues, a commitment reflected in their Solve for Tomorrow project proposals. An impressive 33% of these projects focus on the <strong>climate crisis<\/strong>, 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. <strong>Mental health and wellness<\/strong>, particularly addressing the impacts of social media and stress, along with <strong>school safety<\/strong>, are also prominent themes among student projects.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-76154\" src=\"https:\/\/news.samsung.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Princeton-High-School-NJ-2023-2024-National-Winner-600x361.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"361\" srcset=\"https:\/\/img.us.news.samsung.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/03100231\/Princeton-High-School-NJ-2023-2024-National-Winner-600x361.jpg 600w, https:\/\/img.us.news.samsung.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/03100231\/Princeton-High-School-NJ-2023-2024-National-Winner-950x572.jpg 950w, https:\/\/img.us.news.samsung.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/03100231\/Princeton-High-School-NJ-2023-2024-National-Winner-1536x925.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/img.us.news.samsung.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/03100231\/Princeton-High-School-NJ-2023-2024-National-Winner-2048x1233.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/img.us.news.samsung.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/03100231\/Princeton-High-School-NJ-2023-2024-National-Winner-664x400.jpg 664w, https:\/\/img.us.news.samsung.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/03100231\/Princeton-High-School-NJ-2023-2024-National-Winner-437x263.jpg 437w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Moreover, 60% of these solutions harness <strong>emerging technologies<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSolve for Tomorrow has long embodied Samsung\u2019s strategy, purpose, and values,\u201d said <strong>Salman Taufiq, Director &#8211; Corporate Marketing, Samsung Electronics America<\/strong>. \u201cFrom 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\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-76152\" src=\"https:\/\/news.samsung.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Stillwater-Middle-School-Stillwater-MN-2023-2024-Community-Choice-Winner-600x481.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"481\" srcset=\"https:\/\/img.us.news.samsung.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/03100138\/Stillwater-Middle-School-Stillwater-MN-2023-2024-Community-Choice-Winner-600x481.jpg 600w, https:\/\/img.us.news.samsung.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/03100138\/Stillwater-Middle-School-Stillwater-MN-2023-2024-Community-Choice-Winner-950x762.jpg 950w, https:\/\/img.us.news.samsung.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/03100138\/Stillwater-Middle-School-Stillwater-MN-2023-2024-Community-Choice-Winner-1536x1232.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/img.us.news.samsung.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/03100138\/Stillwater-Middle-School-Stillwater-MN-2023-2024-Community-Choice-Winner-2048x1642.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/img.us.news.samsung.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/03100138\/Stillwater-Middle-School-Stillwater-MN-2023-2024-Community-Choice-Winner-579x464.jpg 579w, https:\/\/img.us.news.samsung.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/03100138\/Stillwater-Middle-School-Stillwater-MN-2023-2024-Community-Choice-Winner-383x307.jpg 383w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<h5><strong>Upcoming Competition Phases<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>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 <strong>State Winners<\/strong>, who will be revealed in March 2025.<\/p>\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-419\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-419 tbody-has-connected-cells\">\n<tbody class=\"row-striping\">\n<tr class=\"row-1\">\n\t<td rowspan=\"3\" class=\"column-1\"><strong>State Winners<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\"><strong>50 State Winners<\/strong> will get a Samsung Video Kit to help create their \u201cSTEM solution pitch video,\u201d along with <strong>$12,000 worth of Samsung technology<\/strong>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-2\">\n\t<td class=\"column-2\">One of the 50 State Winner schools will be recognized with a <strong>Sustainability Innovation Award<\/strong> for driving sustainable change through STEM innovation, and an additional <strong>$25,000 prize package<\/strong>, including Samsung ENERGY STAR\u00ae technology.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3\">\n\t<td class=\"column-2\">From the 50 State Winners, one school will be selected for the<strong> Rising Entrepreneurship Award<\/strong>, receiving a <strong>$25,000 prize package<\/strong> to nurture and develop their STEM solution into a venture extending beyond the competition.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4\">\n\t<td rowspan=\"3\" class=\"column-1\"><strong>National Finalists<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Based on their videos, <strong>10 National Finalists <\/strong>will be chosen to participate in a live pitch event and present their project to a panel of judges. Seven of these schools will be awarded <strong>$50,000 in Samsung technology and classroom supplies<\/strong>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5\">\n\t<td class=\"column-2\">From the National Finalists, one <strong>Community Choice Winner<\/strong> will be determined through online voting by the general public, winning an additional <strong>$10,000 in prizes<\/strong>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-6\">\n\t<td class=\"column-2\">One <strong>Employee Choice Winner<\/strong> will be selected by Samsung employees to receive <strong>$10,000 in prizes<\/strong> in addition to their National Finalist winnings.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-7\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong>National Winners<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Judges will name <strong>three National Winners<\/strong>, each earning a <strong>$100,000 prize package<\/strong>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<!-- #tablepress-419 from cache -->\n<h6><em>*$2 million prize is based on an estimated retail value.<\/em><\/h6>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"embedded recommended recommended-post\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"embedded-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-badge\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>Recommended News<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"recommended-card\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/news.samsung.com\/us\/samsung-solve-for-tomorrow-launches-2024-2025-stem-competition-celebrating-15-years-innovation-community-impact\/?r=true&#038;referrer=usnewsroom\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"recommended-news\" aria-label=\"Samsung Launches 15th Annual Solve for Tomorrow STEM Competition \u2013 Read more\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/img.us.news.samsung.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/22165547\/U.S.-Capitol-Building-image-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Read more: Samsung Launches 15th Annual Solve for Tomorrow STEM Competition\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"details\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"details-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4>Samsung Launches 15th Annual Solve for Tomorrow STEM Competition<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Read more<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"article-content\">\n\t\t<div class=\"article-body\">\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gen Z &#038; Gen Alpha Innovators Propose Emerging Tech Concepts, Sustainable Solutions, and Entrepreneurial Approaches to Address Local Community Issues<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":76145,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17565,29719,17563,17570],"tags":[29212,953,91,29571,16348,16295,30328,30438,29699,16225,832,37,730,35,26197,50],"blue-badge":[],"class_list":["post-76059","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-corporate-communities","category-corporate","category-corporate-education","category-corporate-sustainability","tag-accessibility","tag-artificial-intelligence-ai","tag-citizenship","tag-climate-change","tag-entrepreneurship","tag-environment","tag-future-of-work","tag-gen-alpha","tag-gen-z","tag-innovation","tag-public-affairs","tag-social-responsibility","tag-solve-for-tomorrow-sft","tag-stem","tag-stem-education","tag-sustainability"],"acf":{"turn_off_retargeting":false},"fimg_mobile_url":"https:\/\/img.us.news.samsung.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/03095807\/Cyber-Monday-Article-Featured-Image-664x464-1-200x200.png","fimg_url":"https:\/\/img.us.news.samsung.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/03095807\/Cyber-Monday-Article-Featured-Image-664x464-1-432x286.png","primary_category":{"term_id":17563,"name":"Education","slug":"corporate-education","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":17563,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":29719,"count":280,"filter":"raw","term_link":"https:\/\/samsung-newsroom-production.barbariangroup.com\/us\/category\/corporate\/corporate-education\/","term_path":"corporate\/corporate-education"},"badge":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samsung-newsroom-production.barbariangroup.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76059","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samsung-newsroom-production.barbariangroup.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samsung-newsroom-production.barbariangroup.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samsung-newsroom-production.barbariangroup.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/84"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samsung-newsroom-production.barbariangroup.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=76059"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/samsung-newsroom-production.barbariangroup.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76059\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samsung-newsroom-production.barbariangroup.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/76145"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samsung-newsroom-production.barbariangroup.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=76059"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samsung-newsroom-production.barbariangroup.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=76059"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samsung-newsroom-production.barbariangroup.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=76059"},{"taxonomy":"blue-badge","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samsung-newsroom-production.barbariangroup.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blue-badge?post=76059"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}