Last Call for Teachers and Schools to Enter the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest

Teachers and schools have the opportunity to win up to $2 Million in prizes*
Nov 17, 2016 2:05 PM ET

RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J., November 17, 2016 /3BL Media/ — In just two weeks, Samsung will close applications for the 7th annual Solve for Tomorrow Contest (#SamsungSolve) which will award $2 million* to deserving public schools. Teachers have until Wednesday, November 30 to enter the contest online by submitting a project idea describing how their students will use STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) skills to address a local issue affecting their community.

Solve for Tomorrow challenges public school students in grades 6 – 12 from all 50 states and the District of Columbia to use hands-on STEAM knowledge to address real-world issues and make a difference in their local communities. Teachers can go online to fill out a short three-question application and outline an issue faced by the school’s community, describing how their students will apply STEAM skills to combat the challenge. Previous programs that contest winners have initiated, include:

  • Creating customized prosthesis for local veterans
  • Constructing a safety alert system for a local hiking trail
  • Developing a wearable app to protect students from auto accidents

“This year, the Solve for Tomorrow Contest will inspire students to further explore creativity by shifting from STEM to STEAM,” said Ann Woo, senior director of corporate citizenship, Samsung Electronics America. “With a greater emphasis on creative thinking, the contest is helping schools recognize the strong connection across academic subjects, while enhancing the critical problem solving skills they need for future careers.”

The extended deadline allows teachers to submit their projects by Wednesday, November 30. After submitting their application, schools will have the opportunity to advance through each phase of the contest:

  • State Finalists – Five schools from all 50 states and Washington, D.C. will be chosen as State Finalists, winning technology for their classroom. Then, each teacher will provide a lesson plan on the STEAM classroom project idea they proposed. State Finalists will be announced in early December.
  • State Winners – One school in every state and Washington, D.C. will be chosen as a State Winner and will be awarded $25,000* in technology including a video kit so students can create videos showcasing their project development.
  • National Finalists – Ten schools will be named National Finalists and their project videos will be placed online for public voting. All National Finalists will receive a minimum of $50,000* in Samsung technology and a trip to New York City to pitch their ideas to a panel of judges.
  • National Winners – Three National Winners will be selected by a panel of judges and will receive a technology grant of $150,000*, a donation of $20,000* to their selected NGO and a trip to Washington, D.C. to meet with members of Congress. Additionally, one Community Choice Winner will be decided via online voting will be awarded $20,000* in classroom technology.  This year, students will be able to affect even greater change in their communities by advocating for a local charity of choice and winning a donation on its behalf.

The Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest was created in 2009 to encourage innovation while addressing the technology gap in classrooms across the country. Last year, the competition drew more than 4,000 applicants, leading to more active, hands-on learning among schools in every state. Since 2004, Samsung has provided more than $19 million in technology to more than 1,000 public schools in the United States.

To enter the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest, and for contest rules, please visit www.samsung.com/solve.

*Estimated retail value.

About Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
Headquartered in Ridgefield Park, N.J., Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (SEA) is a recognized innovative leader in consumer electronics, mobile devices and enterprise solutions. A wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., SEA is pushing beyond the limits of today’s technology and providing consumers and organizations with a portfolio of groundbreaking products in appliances, home entertainment, Internet of Things, mobile computing, smartphones, virtual reality, wireless infrastructure and wearables, in addition to offering leading content and services related to mobile payments, 360-degree VR video, customer support and more. Samsung is a pioneering leader in smartphones and HDTVs in the U.S. and one of America’s fastest growing home appliance brands. To discover more about Samsung, please visit www.samsung.com. For the latest Samsung news, please visit news.samsung.com/us and follow us @SamsungNewsUS.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, cameras, digital appliances, medical equipment, network systems, and semiconductor and LED solutions. For the latest news, please visit Samsung Newsroom at http://news.samsung.com.

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