The 6th annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest wrapped up earlier this year, and in doing so, provided $2 million in Samsung Technology to public schools across the United States. The Solve for Tomorrow Contest was launched in 2010 by Samsung to support and encourage science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education among K-12 students. The goal is to increase students' enthusiasm for STEM learning while also encouraging them to use that learning to help make a difference in their community. Samsung partners with BrainPoP, the National Environmental Education Foundation, and Adobe to make this contest possible. Entry into the contest is straightforward: contestants make a two-minute video describing how their project improves their community.
The competition has several phases, as Samsung selects multiple grant winners before selecting the National winners. Choosing from over 4,100 entries, Samsung awards $20,000 in technology to the fifty public schools selected as state winners plus a District of Columbia winner. Those schools then compete for fifteen National finalist spots. Finally, five National winners are selected and each receive $120,000 technology grants. The 2015-2016 Solve for Tomorrow National winners are Mission Valley ROP/ James Logan High School (California), Horizon Middle School (Colorado), Ridgewood Middle School (Missouri), Brooklyn Technical High School (New York) and Loudoun Valley High School (Virginia). From constructing a fully-functional EV solar charging station to producing cost effective prosthetics for wounded veterans, these finalists have created innovation that matters.
The Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest also empowers teachers to create innovative and creative lesson plans that will build greater STEM competency and foster student passion to help. This contest is only one example of Samsung's many corporate citizenship efforts. Samsung's dedication to investing in communities and the programs that enhance health and education opportunities for children is truly inspiring. To date, Samsung has invested over $17 million in technology to public schools in the United States.