As a global company, Samsung believes the key to a greener future begins with everyday sustainability. Since the launching of our recently expanded environmental goals last September, we continue to address the impact of climate in every single stage of our product’s lifecycle and place green innovation at the forefront of our products and user experience. Our environmental strategy reflects Samsung’s sustained dedication to being a responsible business – both within the U.S. and around the world.

This toolkit is a reference guide highlighting how everyday changes, at Samsung’s scale, result in a meaningful impact on our environment. Our holistic approach aims to address climate impacts at every stage of our products’ lifecycles and place sustainable innovation into the hands of our consumers. Highlights include:

Our thoughtfully designed and built products help customers live a more sustainable life. We also provide ways to close the loop on electronic waste. For instance, our Certified Re-Newed program gives older mobile devices new life, providing consumers the exceptional performance they expect from our products while avoiding up to 28X the carbon emissions of recycling or remanufacturing a device. And through our community engagement efforts, such as Solve for Tomorrow and Climate Superstars, we work to improve environmental literacy and support innovative solutions to address society’s greatest challenges – including climate change.

Samsung has a long history of climate action, and we’re proud of the strides we have made to enhance our positive impact. Our comprehensive strategy includes commitments to achieve enterprise-wide net zero carbon emissions for all operations in the Device eXperience Division by 2030 (Mobile eXperience, Visual Display, Digital Appliances, Networks, and Health & Medical Equipment), and across all global operations and the Device Solutions Division (Memory, System LSI, and Foundry) by 2050. Samsung’s environmental commitments encompass an enterprise-wide effort to enhance resource circularity throughout the entire product lifecycle, from raw material sourcing to recycling and disposal. In addition, we’re making bigger investments in new and emerging technologies to reduce emissions from process gases, as well as to conserve and restore water in our operations and to continue to reduce power consumption in consumer products.

But we also recognize there is much more work to be done, and our business must continue adapting to changing societal and consumer needs. For instance, we are working to continue advances in product energy efficiency, expand our use of renewable energy, eliminate all single-use plastic from our mobile packaging by 2025, and recycle 7.5 million metric tons of e-waste and reuse 500,000 tons of recycled plastics globally in our products by 2030. We are committed to driving positive changes across our operations while meeting the needs of our consumers.

We invite you to further explore our sustainability commitments and continued progress in our newly updated 2023 Environmental Toolkit. To download the full toolkit, click here. To download individual briefs, please see Product Energy Efficiency, Product Stewardship, Sustainable Operations, Sharing Our Values, and Sustainable Materials. Together, let’s remain committed to Everyday Sustainability!

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What was your path from Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM competition winner to where you are today?

I really started on that path before formally entering Samsung Solve for Tomorrow. Our Engineering and Math teacher Mr. Ruelas proposed entering the competition in spite of the doubts our class had about being capable of competing at that national level. As students who didn’t have a lot of resources, we learned to be resourceful with what we had when building our project. And it inspired the confidence that each of us was indeed capable, believing that “I can and I WILL” succeed. Solve for Tomorrow opened so many doors for me. It really changed how I thought about things after the competition had ended.

I know that if not for that chance I took, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I didn’t have a lot of role models in the community growing up and Solve for Tomorrow introduced me to so many successful people who were so supportive. After high school and starting college, there was a period when I felt a little lost with school and life. But thanks to the Solve for Tomorrow experience and the introduction to the world of STEM, I was able to focus my “I can and I WILL” confidence to study cardio science and health tech in college, to graduate and secure a position as a User Experience (UX) researcher and designer for the non-profit UNICEF. There, I was able to live the dream of helping people by taking user input to develop solutions that improved their interactions with health services and products.

Like many of my peers, when COVID came it made me take a hard look at my life, at what I was doing, and at my future. Looking ahead, I knew I wanted to act on the spirit of giving back to the community that Solve for Tomorrow had sparked in me. And I wanted to get closer to the people I’m helping than I could in my UX role. So, I decided to take a 180 degree turn in my career and am going back to school to be a Physicians’ Assistant. That will be the next stage of my career.

Tell us about the origin of the “grey water” project.

California may have gotten a reprieve from the most severe drought – but it’s clear that for California and for all the Southwest, water use and water scarcity is going to remain an issue. That was the origin of Downtown College Preparatory School’s Grey Water project. California was experiencing severe drought at that time. Some of the most impacted communities are those like Eastside San Jose, where many residents had large or multigenerational families living under one roof, who would have difficulty limiting water use. Those disadvantaged communities can least afford the high cost of water or the high fines for exceeding water use mandates.

At the same time, a large portion of household water is wasted – or at least underutilized. “Grey Water” – water used in the kitchen, doing laundry, taking showers and baths – can be captured, filtered, and sanitized fairly easily, and used to water gardens, yards, and crops, instead of being run through costly municipal water treatment facilities and/or dumped into the ocean. Using materials available at local hardware stores, our class designed a system that we built in Mr. Ruelas’s backyard. With a little plumbing work, it processed “grey water” to use in the garden or for other secondary uses in place of costly “city water.”

What’s the most important thing you learned or took away from Samsung Solve for Tomorrow?

Solve for Tomorrow really taught me two key lessons. First, that belief that “I can and I WILL” – which has guided my life since participating in Solve for Tomorrow and is guiding me now that I’m making a new career shift. For the second lesson, the STEM competition really lit the fire in me to give back. It showed me the importance of helping support my community in any way possible.

Something else I learned was how important it can be for an under-resourced school like Downtown College Preparatory School to participate in a program like Solve for Tomorrow. First, we got to experience the support of our school and community, which rallied together with fund raising so we could build our grey water system and demonstrate that it worked. Then, as we moved up through the competition all the way to National Winner, we were really able to give back. With our Solve for Tomorrow prize, the school was able to get Chromebooks and other classroom technology. It really helped Mr. Ruelas build the engineering department. That was tremendously important for us.

What’s your advice to STEM students and teachers who might consider entering Samsung Solve for Tomorrow next year?

Do it. You have to take advantage of chances when you have them. They may not come around again. Just believe that “I can and I WILL” – and have the confidence to know that you can indeed do things, that you can succeed. And stay focused on what you can give back to your community.

The post Alumni Michelle Duong: Solve for Tomorrow Lit In Me a Fire for Giving Back appeared first on Samsung US Newsroom.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a lasting impact on STEM education in the U.S., leading to a quiet crisis in classrooms. The shift to remote learning disrupted traditional lab work and left teachers struggling to adjust their programs to engage anxious and isolated students. As a result, many STEM educators have left the profession, exacerbating the existing shortage of STEM teachers in the country. A recent Samsung Solve for Tomorrow survey found that a significant numbers of STEM teachers feel “underpaid” (41%) or “burned out” (26%), while more than two-thirds of educators (65%) said that their school is experiencing a shortage of STEM faculty, with 13% calling it “severe.”

In a June byline in Fast Company, Ann Woo, Senior Director of Corporate Citizenship at Samsung Electronics America who oversees Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, an innovation driver that fosters creativity and problem-solving skills among public middle and high school students through annual STEM competitions, shared her thoughts on how to address these challenges and revitalize STEM education in three steps.

1. The first step is to identify opportunities in the local community for students to apply their STEM skills to real-world problems. Science and STEM competitions organized by industry players, trade groups, and educational institutions can provide platforms for students to showcase their creativity and contribute to their communities.
2. The second step is to participate in volunteer or mentorship programs where employees can provide expertise in practical problem-solving to students.
3. The third step involves supporting initiatives that expand the use of new STEM learning tools and professional development programs for STEM teachers.

Woo concludes, “Scaling these positive benefits to improve STEM education is a personal goal of mine—but I can’t do it alone. It requires that everyone everywhere who is counting on STEM education to maintain a healthy STEM workforce keep listening to what STEM educators have to say. We need to honor and celebrate STEM teachers just as we have the health care professionals who got us through the days of overflowing COVID wards. If we fail at that, we risk someday having no next-gen STEM practitioners to help us innovate.”

Read Ann Woo’s full Fast Company article here: https://www.fastcompany.com/90907973/covid-isnt-over-for-americas-classrooms-especially-in-stem-learning-but-we-can-fix-that

(NOTE: Entries will open for the 14^th annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM competition by September 2023. Visit Samsung.com/Solve for more information.)

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In an Opinion column for STEM SmartBrief, a STEM education media outlet, Harry Preston, who helped judge this year’s Solve for Tomorrow national STEM competition for public middle and high school students, writes that the hardest part of judging a student STEM competition is “keeping your judge hat on” and not slipping back into teacher mode. Judging the final round of the 13^th annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition, it was difficult for him to contain his excitement about what these kids were working on and how innovative they were.

Asked about common themes among the ten projects that were being pitched by the competition’s National Finalists, Harry replied that there was an overarching theme – “Find a need, Fill a need.” These teams were identifying problems and issues that were of concern to them and their communities and, in that process, they typically developed a solution that had global implications.

A look at the final student pitches shows several clear trends to the Computer Science Teacher at Green Street Academy in Baltimore and past three-time Samsung Solve for Tomorrow State Winner and one-time National Finalist:

• Community mental health challenges were top of mind for the two middle school teams that made it to the finals.
• Climate/environment induced dangers sparked the greatest number of proposals from these highly motivated young people.
• Concern for distressed community members ran throughout the proposals.

He was also asked if he thinks competition is the right approach for a learning environment. “In many ways, competition drives innovation – it helps you learn how to marshal finite resources; it forces you to prioritize. The STEM competitions my classes enter don’t really have any losers – there are winners and learners. If you don’t win, you learn, and you can apply what you learn to future projects.”

“As a teacher in a resource challenged community, I also want to add a comeback to those who say that ‘Fail Often’ should be a mantra in the tech space. The luxury of failing isn’t equally shared across American education. Some school districts can afford to fail and fail again before getting things ‘right.’ Elsewhere, teachers have to make do with what’s on hand, or that they can afford to supplement out of their own pockets.”

That’s why Harry believes programs like Solve for Tomorrow are so important. “They provide a very real supplement to the limited resources available for STEM programs in many districts. Even those that didn’t achieve top prizes learned that they – their ideas, their skills, and their concerns for the communities – are valued in the world outside their classrooms.”

Read Harry’s Opinion article here: https://corp.smartbrief.com/original/2023/07/stem-competition-judge

To learn more about Solve for Tomorrow, which will be kicking off this Fall, please visit www.samsung.com/solve or follow us on Instagram or Facebook.

The post Solve for Tomorrow OpEd: It’s Not Easy Being a STEM Competition Judge appeared first on Samsung US Newsroom.

In late July, a remarkable event unfolded in Denver, Colorado as 38 U.S. public middle and high school teachers gathered to participate in Samsung’s 5^th annual Solve for Tomorrow Teacher Academy. This transformative week-long professional development program immersed educators in innovative teaching methodologies and professional skills, as well as community building with likeminded educators.

Teacher Academy’s primary focus has been on enhancing science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education through problem-based learning (PBL) – a hands-on, collaborative learning method using complex real-world problems to promote learning. This year, the PBL-based program curriculum was further enriched with environmental stewardship, social impact entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence-based assessment, design-thinking, and empathy development, creating a comprehensive and impactful approach that we’ve coined PBL+. PBL+ is of paramount importance as it not only equips students with essential contemporary skills, but also prepares them for the workforce of the future, where adaptability, critical thinking, and innovative approaches will be crucial for success.

A Platform for Empowering Educators

Samsung’s commitment to education goes beyond providing cutting-edge technology and solutions to consumers and academic institutions. Teacher Academy builds on the success of Samsung Solve for Tomorrow – our national competition that challenges U.S. public school students in grades 6-12 to explore the role STEM can play in solving some of the biggest issues in their local communities. In 2019, we recognized that addressing a continuing shortfall in STEM teachers was critical to ensure the future of STEM education in the U.S.

Teacher Academy meets that need by offering a carefully curated professional development program to educators that have participated in Solve for Tomorrow — whom we know to be highly motivated and committed to advancing opportunities for STEM students. The annual program centers around inspiring and motivating STEM teachers – so they can inspire more students to pursue STEM education and careers. With this year’s Teacher Academy class of  STEM teachers, we will have hosted more than 250 educators over the past five years.

A Week of Immersive Learning

To put PBL+ into action, educators visited Denver Water to design an innovative and viable solution to maximize water resources for Colorado and combat the critical drought conditions that the Centennial State and neighboring states face. After touring the water treatment and recycling facilities, teachers worked in groups on their prototype solutions.

Colorado State University’s CSU SPUR hosted educators, with tours of the research and education center, including laboratories, veterinary clinics, hydroponic gardens, and more. Group discussion included how to leverage community resources in learning opportunities, and how to engage with community partners to bring instruction outside of the classroom.

New this year, the program curriculum zeroed in on empowering educators to cultivate entrepreneurial mindsets among students – especially given that the Solve for Tomorrow competition is grounded in socially impactful innovation. Mini-sessions delved into practical aspects of entrepreneurship, protecting intellectual property, and empowering educational growth through real-world experiences and user-centric learning, leaving teachers inspired to infuse their classrooms with entrepreneurial spirit.

Moreover, Dr. Justin Aglio, Executive Director of the Readiness Institute at Pennsylvania State University, led a seminar-style discussion on artificial intelligence (AI) and its relevance in K-12 education. With a focus on the ethics of AI, teachers engaged in small group discussions, exploring ways to leverage AI for greater effectiveness in their teaching practices, encouraging student involvement, and envisioning AI’s applications in the Solve for Tomorrow competition. This session provided valuable insights into the potential of AI to enhance education and create positive social impact.

Teacher Academy partner, MindSpark Learning, which provides innovative and sustainable professional development nationwide for educators, designed a dynamic learning environment that encouraged exploration and experimentation. “At MindSpark Learning, we believe that teachers are the architects of a brighter future. Our Teacher Academy partnership with Samsung underscores our commitment to empowering educators with the tools they need to foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity in students,” emphasized Kiki Huckaby, Chief Impact Officer of  MindSpark Learning. “By investing in our teachers, we invest in a better tomorrow.”

“I have learned so many valuable lessons and best practices from Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Teacher Academy. I have gained insights on how to improve problem-based learning in my classroom, how to form stronger partnerships with organizations and individuals within our local community, how to help educators in my district develop stronger entrepreneurial approaches to teaching, and how to form solid connections with other amazing educators across the nation,” said Phillip Hutcherson, a Teacher Academy attendee and K-12 Math and Science Instruction Specialist at Colorado Springs School District 11.

Looking Ahead

“We believe in the power of education to transform lives and communities. Teacher Academy is a testament to Samsung’s dedication to supporting educators who play a crucial role in shaping the future,” said Ann Woo, Samsung Electronics America’s Head of Corporate Citizenship. “By fostering creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship through this immersive PBL+ training, we aim to elevate STEM education to new heights and encourage a bright and inclusive STEM workforce.”

As the 5^th annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Teacher Academy came to a close, a ripple effect of positive change was set in motion. Armed with new knowledge and perspectives, these educators are now better prepared to equip their students with the skills necessary to thrive in the 21^st century. Their impact will spread out across the STEM discipline, as our Teacher Academy alumni return home to directly inspire 100 or more students each semester, thousands of STEM learners per year, across all 50 states, inspiring a new generation of innovators, leaders, and problem solvers.

The post Unlocking the Power of PBL+: Samsung’s Teacher Academy Empowers U.S. Educators to Boost STEM Education with Entrepreneurship & AI appeared first on Samsung US Newsroom.

As a global company, Samsung believes the key to a greener future begins with everyday approach to sustainability. Since the launch of our recently expanded environmental strategy last September, we continue to address the impact of climate in every single stage of our product’s lifecycle and place sustainable innovation at the forefront of our products and user experience. Our environmental strategy reflects Samsung’s sustained dedication to being a responsible business – both within the U.S. and around the world.

This toolkit is a reference guide highlighting how everyday changes, at Samsung’s scale, result in a meaningful impact on our environment. Our holistic approach aims to address climate impacts at every stage of our products’ lifecycles and place sustainable innovation into the hands of our consumers. Highlights include:

Our thoughtfully designed products help our customers reduce their environmental impact as they go about their daily lives. We also believe in the importance of recycling and reusing materials, and provide ways to close the loop on electronic waste. For instance, our Certified Re-Newed program extends the life of older mobile devices, providing consumers the exceptional performance they expect from our products while avoiding up to 28X the carbon emissions of remanufacturing a new device. And through our community engagement efforts, such as Solve for Tomorrow and Climate Superstars, we work to improve environmental literacy and support innovative solutions to address society’s greatest challenges – including climate change.

Samsung has a long history of climate action, and we’re proud of the strides we have made to enhance our positive impact. Our comprehensive strategy includes commitments to achieve enterprise-wide net zero carbon emissions for all operations in the Device eXperience Division by 2030 (Mobile eXperience, Visual Display, Digital Appliances, Networks, and Health & Medical Equipment), and across all global operations and the Device Solutions Division (Memory, System LSI, and Foundry) by 2050. Samsung’s environmental commitments encompass an enterprise-wide effort to enhance resource circularity throughout the entire product lifecycle, from raw material sourcing to recycling and disposal. In addition, we’re making bigger investments in new and emerging technologies to reduce emissions from process gases, as well as to conserve and restore water in our operations and to continue to reduce power consumption in consumer products.

But we also recognize there is much more work to be done, and our business must continue adapting to changing societal and consumer needs. That’s why we are working to continue advances in product energy efficiency, expand our use of renewable energy, eliminate all single-use plastic from our mobile packaging by 2025, and recycle 7.5 million metric tons of e-waste and reuse 500,000 tons of recycled plastics globally in our products by 2030. We are committed to driving positive changes across our operations while meeting the needs of our consumers.

We invite you to further explore our sustainability commitments and continued progress in our newly updated 2023 Environmental Toolkit. To download the full toolkit, click here. To download individual briefs, please see Environmental Strategy, Product Energy Efficiency, Product Stewardship, Sustainable Operations, Sharing Our Values, and Sustainable Materials.

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U.S. Public Middle and High Schools Can Enter Now for a Share of $2 Million in Prizes, Including a NEW Prestigious Rising Entrepreneurship Award

Samsung Electronics America, Inc. is proud to announce the launch of our 2023-2024 Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition, a nationwide competition that empowers students in grades 6–12 to harness the power of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) to create innovative solutions addressing critical issues in their local communities. U.S. public middle and high school teachers are invited to submit an application that asks students to catalyze tangible change and address some of society’s most pressing challenges by applying the principles of Problem-based Learning (PBL) – active, hands-on learning through real-world problem-solving – and entrepreneurship.

Gen Z embodies the future of work—a generation intrinsically motivated to construct, pioneer, and drive meaningful change. In recognition of this entrepreneurial spirit, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is adapting to celebrate and incentivize their innovation and ingenuity with a new national “Rising Entrepreneurship Award” valued at $25,000 for one winning school. This prestigious honor underscores the importance of nurturing solutions that not only excel in the competition but also transcend it, ultimately evolving into scalable and sustainable ventures that will play a pivotal role in shaping the workforce of tomorrow.

The Rising Entrepreneurship Award, as well as our Sustainability Innovation Award – an honor created in 2021 in response to Gen Z’s deep passion for the planet, joins prize packages that will put more than $2 million* in Samsung technology and classroom supplies in the hands of STEM teachers across America.

Ann Woo, Head of Corporate Citizenship at Samsung Electronics America, noted: “As we launch the 14^th annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition, we’re excited to witness the energy and creativity of our young participants, who represent the future. With a prize pool of $2 million, we’re truly investing in the potential of Gen Z to shape the world with their visionary ideas and make a positive impact. And we’re thrilled to celebrate the fifth year of our partnership with DonorsChoose, the leading way to give to preK–12 public schools.”

The Application Process

Now through Friday, October 27, public school teachers across the U.S. can apply for this year’s STEM competition. In prior years, participating students have identified significant societal and environmental challenges, designing STEM-based concepts that address food waste and insecurity, urban decay and blight, inequality, mental health, and the influence of climate change on extreme environmental events.

The Solve for Tomorrow application process takes about two minutes – and you don’t need to be a STEM teacher to apply. (Public school History, Arts, and Physical Education teachers, plus coaches and administrators, are welcome too!) All that’s needed is an initial idea outlining how students would use STEM to address a critical need in their local community.

Competition Phases & Grand Prizes

Once applications are submitted by the October deadline, schools will have the opportunity to move ahead to the following competition phases:

• 300 State Finalists, at least five from each state, from the overall pool of applicants will receive a $2,500 prize package
• 50 State Winners will receive a Samsung Video Kit to assist in the development of their “STEM solution pitch video,” as well as $12,000 in Samsung technology
• One of the 50 State Winner schools will be recognized as visionaries for driving sustainable change through STEM innovation with a Sustainability Innovation Award, and an additional $50,000 prize package

• One State Winner will be selected for the new Rising Entrepreneurship Award worth $25,000 in Samsung educational technology
• 10 National Finalist Schools will participate in a live pitch event where they will present their project to a panel of judges. Seven of these schools will be awarded $50,000 in Samsung technology and classroom supplies
• A Community Choice Winner will also be determined through online voting by the general public, winning an additional $10,000 in prizes
• An Employee Choice Winner will be selected by Samsung employees to receive $10,000 in prizes in addition to their National Finalist winnings
• Judges will name 3 National Winners, each of whom earns a prize package worth $100,000

To enter Solve for Tomorrow and for official competition rules, please visit Samsung.com/solve. The deadline to submit is 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, October 27, 2023.

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow launched in 2010 as a way to boost interest, proficiency, and diversity in STEM. The education-based citizenship program is now a catalyst for a change in the perception of STEM, a crucial aspect in fostering a skilled 21st century workforce and informed citizens of the modern world. To date, Solve for Tomorrow has awarded $25 million in Samsung technology and classroom supplies to 3,500-plus public schools across the United States. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

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

The post Igniting Gen Z Innovation and Ingenuity: Samsung Launches its 2023-2024 Solve for Tomorrow STEM Competition appeared first on Samsung US Newsroom.

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow & DonorsChoose Celebrate Enduring Partnership in Support of STEM Education

The impactful partnership of Samsung Electronics America, Inc. and DonorsChoose, the leading nonprofit for supporting preK–12 public schools, celebrates its fifth anniversary this year. This collaboration, centered around Samsung’s national Solve for Tomorrow science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) competition for public middle and high school students, has over five years delivered $8.5 million in Samsung technology and classroom supplies to nearly 500 schools participating in Solve for Tomorrow competitions.

Ann Woo, Samsung Electronics America’s Head of Corporate Citizenship, described the genesis of the relationship: “In the early ’20-teens, as Solve for Tomorrow and DonorsChoose both grew, each of us was separately searching for likeminded partners looking to engage with ‘handraiser’ educators and provide classrooms the tools they need to nurture students. From our network within the citizenship community, we knew that teachers on DonorsChoose understand the needs of a classroom better than many. And as the most trusted funding site for teachers, DonorsChoose was perfectly positioned with a white-glove customer experience capability and an established delivery infrastructure. DonorsChoose let us know how well the tech Samsung contributed matched teachers’ needs and would work best for both educators and students. So, in 2018, we explored partnership possibilities, and it’s been a match made in EDU-heaven ever since.”

DonorsChoose CEO Alix Guerrier, speaking in May with students, teachers, judges, and guests at the final round of the 2022-2023 Solve for Tomorrow competition in Washington, D.C., described how the Samsung partnership aligns with the DonorsChoose mission, “We’re working together to accomplish a shared goal by leaning into our strengths to ensure that teachers have the tools and resources they need to provide students in every community with the best possible education. We know from our regular communications with teachers that despite the challenges of their work, most teachers would want to remain in their jobs for the next ten years. Our job as an organization and as a broader society is to make their work sustainable, and Solve for Tomorrow provides exactly the kind of support teachers need to broaden student participation in STEM.”

Tabulating and tracking each school’s specific technology choices and arranging the delivery of the right gear to the right school, starting at the State Winners round of competition on up to our National Winners, is handled through a bespoke support system developed by DonorsChoose expressly for Solve for Tomorrow. The value that they contribute to the partnership was highlighted by the complexity of fulfilling winner prizes in Year 13 of the Solve for Tomorrow competition.

Three Year 13 National Winners, each received technology prize packages of $100,000: Brandywine High School (Wilmington, DE) for their low-cost assistive technology for the mobility challenged; Strawberry Crest High School (Dover, FL) for an app to prevent sports-related heat stroke; and Porter High School (Porter, TX) for a noninvasive beehive monitoring system to battle pollinator collapse. Seven other National Finalists were awarded $50,000 each. Our Community Choice Award of $10,000 went to Richmond Hill Middle School (Richmond, GA) for its monitor and companion app to reduce the threat of “night terrors” for PTSD sufferer and Brandywine added $10,000 to its winnings as the Samsung Employee Choice solution.

As the 14th annual Solve for Tomorrow competition kicks off, we’re adding to the celebration of our partnership by launching a new $25,000 prize, the Rising Entrepreneurship Award. Public school teachers can submit their entries now through Friday, October 27, 2023.

All told, the positive impact of the Solve for Tomorrow and DonorsChoose partnership for students, schools, and STEM teachers is reflected in feedback to the DonorsChoose customer experience team:

• I cannot begin to tell you how impactful this project has been on the learning in our building. Because of your generosity, we were able to outfit an engineering and design lab for our students. This lab includes 3D printers, large-format printers, Samsung Flip TV, and tons of materials to design, create, and make for their class and club. This donation also provided the propulsion needed for our school to invest in these technologies. Since this initial project was funded, we have also received other generous donations from local engineering firms and companies. They saw how serious we were about our program through the instruction and materials and decided they wanted to support this idea. Thank you for this initial investment – the impact has had a ripple effect on our community. – 2022-2023 State Winner
• The impact of the $50,000 in technology and equipment from the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition was tremendous for our school. With the funds, we were able to purchase new computer components to build brand new computers for our classrooms. This gave our students access to the latest technology and educational resources. We were also able to purchase robotics equipment to give our students the opportunity to learn coding and engineering skills. Finally, we purchased appliances for our family and consumer science class, so our students could learn about cooking, nutrition, and other household skills. The impact of the competition was far reaching and made a huge difference in our school. We are very grateful to Samsung for making this possible and for giving our students access to the latest technology and educational resources. – 2022-2023 National Finalist.

You can also take a deep dive into how one school, Great Bridge High School (Chesapeake VA) – a 2021-2022 National Winner, used their prize package to create a state-of-the-art “Collaboration Lab.”

Each year, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow welcomes thousands of competition entrants who work on their STEM solutions that tackle real-world problems throughout the school year, advancing through multiple levels of the competition. Across award categories, more than $2 million* in prize packages was distributed in 2023. Since Solve for Tomorrow’s inception in 2010, Samsung has donated $25 million in tech and classroom supplies to 3,500+ schools across every state in the U.S.

To learn more about Solve for Tomorrow and to apply for the national STEM competition, please visit www.samsung.com/solve or follow us on Instagram or Facebook.

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

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For this year’s ‘Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Alumni: Where Are They Now?’ series, we’re catching up with students who have competed in our national STEM competition to discover more about life after Solve. We’re learning how Solve for Tomorrow impacted the students and the trajectory of their higher education and career path, as well as the overall importance of STEM education.

What was your path from Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM competition winner to where you are today?

“Solve for Tomorrow really showed me that if we put our minds to it, we could accomplish something important for our fellow students.”

“Participating in the competition opened my eyes to having opportunities that I could take advantage of. It motivated me to go to the Science and Medicine Academy at Deep Creek High School. An interest I had in forensics – in part from watching the television series Criminal Minds and CSI Miami – really blossomed in High School. I was able to take a forensics class, and I fell in love with it. I liked the idea of analysis, of getting down into the details, and then using the details to figure out the unknown.”

“I intend to continue my forensic studies at Tidewater Community College, after the gap-year I’m now enjoying. Ultimately, I’d like to work in forensic criminology – and maybe get an advanced degree from a four-year university.”

What was the origin of the “Sight for Tomorrow” eyeglasses project?

“It was really all about a simple idea – helping kids who needed eyeglasses get a pair that worked for them so they could improve their grades. Looking back, it was remarkable what we were able to do.”

Deep Creek Middle School’s winning entry for 2018-2019, ”Sight for Tomorrow,” was elegant in its simplicity. The students created a mobile app that enabled users in need of glasses to search the inventory of donated glasses collected by local service organization, Lions International. Tia was one of the team members who created QR codes that recorded the specifics of each available pair of glasses, while a web coding group wrote the program that used the QR codes to match pairs of glasses with individual eyewear prescriptions. The class also sought advice and input from area eyecare specialists at Genesis Eyecare, who provided free eye exams for Sight for Tomorrow users.

As Tia describes it, the idea behind the app was straightforward: “We knew some of our classmates were trying to get seats at the front of the class, because they couldn’t clearly see the board. Their grades were suffering because of that, but they were reluctant to admit their vision challenges – embarrassed that their families couldn’t afford the expense of eye exams and glasses.”

Deep Creek Middle School in fact serves a largely under-resourced community – 60% of its students qualify for free breakfast and lunch. Health care and eye care was a financial burden for many of those families.

The Sight for Tomorrow eyeglasses project was yet another example of the tremendous empathy that Solve for Tomorrow has shown America’s middle school students have for their classmates and communities – and the innovative STEM-based solutions that they create to address community issues. In year 13 of Solve for Tomorrow alone, three middle schools ranked as National Finalists – Brooklyn’s Liberty Avenue Middle School for its SubSave app – an alert system that New York subway riders could use to report either safety or mental health incidents; Richmond Hill Middle School in Georgia, whose students developed a mobile app that PTSD victims can use to ward off debilitating night terrors; and Doral Academy in Nevada, where the team established a food rescue and distribution program to combat food insecurity in their community.

To hear Tia tell it, middle schoolers’ youth is an important factor in these displays of STEMpathy, “Being young, you just want to focus on bringing some help into the world, and you go do it. And hopefully, that carries on and you keep on doing it as you become an adult.”

What’s the most important thing you learned or took away from Samsung Solve for Tomorrow?

“This was the first STEM competition in which our class participated – and we were very nervous backstage. We had technical problems with our presentation, and even forgot to have the judges try out the QR codes like we’d planned. But at the end of the day, the experience helped me get more comfortable with public speaking and be more confident in general.”

“Another important thing for me was that competing in Solve for Tomorrow allowed me to talk to more people, people I didn’t know, and learn more of their stories. The kids at the Solve for Tomorrow final pitch event came from so many places all over the United States. Hearing their stories and understanding their challenges made me realize there was so much more out there than I’d been familiar with.”

What’s your advice to STEM students and teachers who might consider entering Solve for Tomorrow next year?

“If you see a problem – don’t overthink it. If there’s a problem, jump on it. It will work out in the end. Connecting that passion to do something, and then knowing other kids and their challenges, when you do make that connection, it’s going to be amazing.”

To learn more about the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM competition, which is accepting entries now through October 27, 2023, please visit www.samsung.com/solve.

The post Alumni Tia Davis: Solve for Tomorrow Showed Me There’s No Limit to What We Can Accomplish appeared first on Samsung US Newsroom.

With each new innovation unveiled, Samsung aims to empower customers with cutting-edge technology that enhances every day experiences. And with more than 50% of homeowners expressing concern about their household impact on the environment[1], we are committed to developing energy efficient products and services that can help you reduce power consumption and costs, without sacrificing what you love to do.

Kicking off next week during Climate Week NYC, we are bringing together our network of employees, customers, government agencies, non-profit organizations, media partners and more, for exciting activations that build on our commitment to improve energy efficiency.

Check out how we’re helping people build a smarter, more energy efficient home. And this week, be sure to explore our Discover Samsung Fall Sale happening now through Sunday, September 17 for up to 35% off Samsung tech, including offers on select ENERGY STAR certified products that can save you about $450 on your household energy bill each year![2]

Tech’s Playbook for Public-Private Climate Solutions (9/19)

Tackling issues like climate change require ongoing cooperation and support from us all, but knowing where to start can feel like a daunting task. On Tuesday, September 19, Samsung and ITI are partnering to host events that highlight private and public partnerships between tech companies and government agencies that have a positive impact on the environment. Join us for a panel event at The Standard, High Line, as our very own Mark Newton, Head of Corporate Sustainability at Samsung Electronics America, sits down with the Biden Administration’s Jetta Wong, Senior Advisor on Climate, and Chief Sustainability Officers from many of the world’s leading tech companies, including HP, Intel Corporation and Accenture, to discuss critical climate questions and identify working solutions. RSVP here.

Smart Home Design for Sustainable Living (9/21)

Samsung is sitting down with design and architecture magazine Dezeen to tap into the role that smart appliances can play in making the modern home more efficient. Join us at Samsung 837 on Thursday, September 21 from 6 – 8pm ET to hear from Ben Dreith, Dezeen US Editor, and world-class tech and smart home designers, including Barent Roth, Director of Product Design at The New School – Parsons and Director, Co-Founder of Circular Economy Manufacturing; Matthew Spencer, Associate Director, Industrial Design & Sustainability at Aruliden; and Samsung Electronics America’s Claudia Santos, Director of Product Marketing – Connected Living; as they explore how a connected home can help you reduce your environmental impact. RSVP here.

Samsung Employees Serve Communities Coast-to-Coast (9/21)

As part of our annual Samsung Gives Day of Service, Samsung employees will spend the day learning about the needs of local communities and serving through various activities that showcase Samsung’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, empowering the next generation and building a more sustainable world. With 16 different sustainability-focused events to choose from nationwide, our people will get in touch with their green side as they beautify bike trails, clean up local creeks and more. And in New Jersey, employees at City Green will be joined by previous Solve for Tomorrow National Winners from Princeton High School to bring their winning STEM solution to life. Student and employee participants will come together and create biohomes for black soldier flies to transform food waste into compost. These sustainable systems will be donated to City Green for use on their urban farm. Click here to learn more about Princeton High Schools winning project.

Check back next week to for new details on upcoming events, tips to be more energy efficient, 5-minute fixes for your tech and more from our partners in sustainability!

[1] “53% of homeowners agree they are concerned about their household impact on the environment.” According to an August 2023 survey of 1,003 U.S. homeowners, aged 18+, conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of Samsung. If you’d like to learn more or if we can help you with more data, please let us know.

[2] Source: https://www.energystar.gov/buildings/about-us/facts-and-stats

The post Samsung Talks Tech & Tips for a More Energy Efficient Home appeared first on Samsung US Newsroom.

In a commentary for the education-focused media outlet Education Week, AP Biology teacher Dr. Kirstin Milks, who guided her Bloomington High School South student team to a Sustainability Innovation Award win in the 2022-2023 national Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM competition, writes that STEM-based social impact projects fuel growth and learning.

“At the end of the day, educators need to be able to find a way for students to feel they are having a positive impact. That’s where Solve for Tomorrow can be a big assist – as a program and process to help students organize their thinking and even strengthen their communications skills as they collaborate together to tackle big issues.”

Describing the path her students took to attain their $50,000 sustainability nod, the Bloomington, Indiana-based educator explains, “My Solve for Tomorrow students mentioned that climate anxiety had significantly shaped their life experience as they progressed to middle school and started seeing the world around them in a more expansive way. So that’s what my students asked to do: work on a ‘BIG THING,’ in their words, that would help mitigate the climate crisis.”

The science students focused on using highly reflective paint that can lower building temperatures by reflecting away sunlight and thereby reduce urban heat island effects. They enlisted art students to design and paint a mural highlighting climate change at Bloomington’s WonderLab Science Museum, demonstrating society’s ability to make a difference. The joint effort of science geeks and creative types sent a powerful message to the larger community.

Milks’ students definitely made an impact. “Here in Bloomington, it didn’t take long for them to make a big impact,” she writes. “A business incubator in town wants to use their paint on their new building. There’s been discussion at the municipal level about surveying and increasing the number of reflective white roofs in town. The Museum will paint another wall of their building with various paints to demonstrate their reflective values and 2 or 3 of my students will construct a family learning experience centered on their STEM solution.”

Another aspect of social impact that Milks stresses is that learning to do work that makes the world a better place for other people – and learning how to do that WITH other people – builds a sense of belonging – an antidote for loneliness, fear, and anxiety, as well as the lingering legacies of the pandemic.

Milks says “Watching my students do extraordinary things has been a real gift to me as a teacher!” And she has a message for fellow educators: “If you’re a middle or high school educator in a public school, I encourage you to consider applying for the 2023-2024 Solve for Tomorrow competition, and to incorporate STEM-based social impact projects into your curriculum.”

Read Kirstin’s full commentary in the Education Week Opinion article here.

To learn more about the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM competition, which is accepting entries now through October 27, 2023, please visit www.samsung.com/solve.

The post Solve for Tomorrow OpEd: The Future of STEM Education is Social Impact appeared first on Samsung US Newsroom.

Samsung Day of Service is an annual, hands-on community service initiative where employees nationwide come together to make a collective impact by supporting local nonprofit partners. In the heart of Clifton, New Jersey, on a bright afternoon, more than a dozen dedicated Samsung employees embarked on a journey of community engagement as they joined forces with City Green, a nonprofit urban farming and gardening organization in the area. The mission? To celebrate education, sustainability, and the spirit of giving.

But this wasn’t just any community service event. It was a convergence of passion, purpose, and innovation. The Samsung team had the privilege of meeting up with an inspiring group of students and their exceptional science, research, and engineering teacher, Mark Eastburn, from Princeton High School. The reason for this meeting? Mark Eastburn’s team was none other than the proud National Winners of the 2021-2022 Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM competition.

“The City Green event – which brought together two of our citizenship programs, Day of Service and Solve for Tomorrow – exemplifies that Samsung is more than just a company selling products; it’s a dedicated member of the community, actively involved in making a tangible difference. We don’t just talk about giving back; we physically engage and demonstrate our commitment to improving the communities we serve,” said Hiren Patel, Senior Product Marketing Manager – TVs, Samsung Electronics America.

“It was such a gift to learn from the Princeton High School students and see their project and passion in action. City Green, at its core, is a community-powered farm created for learning and growing. Today’s project was a beautiful example of how we can all learn from each other in our collective efforts to create healthier and more ecologically-minded communities,” said Liz Kleisner, Director of Community Horticulture, City Green.

Samsung Employees Gain Insights and Inspiration from Student Innovators

As the event unfolded, the students, who were brimming with enthusiasm, took center stage. Their mission was clear: to shed light on a critical issue—food waste and its alarming contribution to climate change. It was a problem that had been overlooked for far too long. Food waste, they revealed, stood as the third-largest contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In their community, just like many others, much of the discarded food ended up in landfills, releasing harmful emissions into the atmosphere.

The students shared their innovative solution, one that had not only earned them national recognition but had the potential to transform their community’s approach to waste management. Harnessing the power of biotechnology and a rather unlikely hero—the black soldier fly—the students had found a way to bioremediate food waste into valuable products. These included protein-rich feed for animals and a sustainable substitute for palm oil, a common ingredient in cosmetics like soap. Their creative approach promises to reduce GHG from landfills, contributing to a more sustainable future.

Princeton High School student Elija Meier commented, “Being part of the Solve for Tomorrow project has been eye-opening. Connecting with professionals in the sustainability field and witnessing how we can work together to create solutions gives me hope for the future. It has ignited an interest in me to explore such avenues in other aspects of my life, knowing that positive change is not only possible but within our reach.”

Student Yugandhara Luthra added, “As a high school student, it’s easy to feel like you can’t make a meaningful impact until you’re older. However, being a part of this project has shown me that even as a teenager, a little science and collaboration can move the needle on our environmental progress. It makes me feel like I’m contributing in my own small way, and it’s clear that when we come together, our collective efforts can truly make a significant impact.”

A Sustainable Enterprise Springs from Samsung Solve for Tomorrow

But there is more to this remarkable Day of Service story. The students explained how their journey with Samsung Solve for Tomorrow had extended far beyond the competition. Through their dedication and ingenuity, they had built a sustainable enterprise around the production and sale of these natural oils and other products derived from their food waste processing system. The result? An ongoing income stream that not only benefited their school’s STEM program but also reinforced their commitment to making a lasting impact on the environment.

Eastburn noted, “The soap that we’ve been making with sustainable oils has helped support the purchase of materials for our three-year research program. In addition, the greenhouses that we were able to secure through winning Samsung Solve for Tomorrow in 2022 have enabled us to build a standalone food waste remediation facility and we hope to start selling black soldier fly larvae as wild bird food and chicken feed within the next few months. The revenue generated will then be reinvested into new, innovative ideas that Princeton High School students are developing and building—both in our Research Program and in science classes that welcome English language learners.”

“The fact that students are able to make and market their own products has been incredibly empowering to them; it encourages them to think beyond mere consumerism and actually become entrepreneurs,” he continued.

The event in Clifton, New Jersey, was not just a day of service; it was a celebration of collaboration, innovation, and the boundless potential of young minds dedicated to solving some of our world’s most pressing challenges. Samsung’s commitment to fostering such educational initiatives and supporting these young changemakers and budding entrepreneurs was evident, and the impact of Samsung Day of Service and Samsung Solve for Tomorrow was undeniable.

To learn more about the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM competition, which is accepting entries now through October 27, 2023, please visit samsung.com/solve.

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50% Aspire to be Entrepreneurs, 21% See AI as Opportunity & 40% Predict AI-Driven Job Disruption

Gen Z is charting a new course for the Future of Work, with a strong emphasis on defining their careers in line with their passions and aspirations. They are entering the workforce in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and are aware of its transformative potential on the job market. Notably, while 21% of Gen Z respondents feel that AI will create more job opportunities for people in their generation, 40% anticipate that AI will lead to job disruption in many traditional industries, according to a new Morning Consult survey, commissioned by Samsung Solve for Tomorrow.

Despite any concerns about disruption, Gen Z’s career aspirations highlight their adaptability and forward-thinking mindset. When asked about the industries they are most drawn to or consider promising for their future careers, respondents consistently focused on sectors known as hubs of innovation and creativity. Entertainment and Media attracted 33% of respondents, closely followed by Technology and Design – both at 30%, and  24% expressed interest in pursuing careers in Health Industries.

At the same time, it is abundantly clear from the survey that Gen Z is driven by a strong entrepreneurial spirit, with 50% expressing their desire to become entrepreneurs or start their own business. This unwavering focus on entrepreneurship underscores Gen Z’s innovative mindset, their drive for autonomy, and their eagerness to forge unique paths in the ever-evolving landscape of the future of work.

Recognizing the significance of this shift, Morning Consult and Samsung Solve for Tomorrow conducted a new survey, dubbed “The Rise of Gen Z and the Future of Work,” that polled over 1,000 U.S. students aged 16 to 25, shedding light on how the emerging generation envisions the future of work, their perceptions of skills required for success, the impact of AI on the workplace, and the qualities needed to be a successful entrepreneur. These findings provide valuable insights into the evolving dynamics of the workforce as Gen Z begins to shape the workplace on their own terms.

Ann Woo, Head of Corporate Citizenship for Samsung North America, said, “Gen Z’s drive to be entrepreneurs, to create their own business and path, is a powerful motivation that those in STEM industries need to acknowledge and cultivate when thinking about our own workforce of the future. We’ve seen that creative drive manifested in the STEM projects submitted each year to our annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM competition – and to help further encourage that maker spirit, we’ve added a Rising Entrepreneurship Award this year to the roster of prizes presented to winning schools.”

Among the other key findings from the survey:

Work 3.0: Gen Z anticipates significant changes in the workplace in the next decade:

• Increased use of advanced technologies (AI, Machine Learning, Robotics, Virtual Reality or Artificial Reality, etc.): 58%
• Growth of remote and flexible work options: 41%
• Emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) in the workplace: 36%

Ideal Career Paths: Gen Z envisions diverse career paths, with a strong focus on entrepreneurship and creativity:

• Becoming an entrepreneur or starting their own business: 50%
• Working in the creative arts and media: 44%
• Pursuing a career in a STEM-related field: 28%

Entrepreneurial Success Factors: Gen Z believes key attributes are needed to succeed as entrepreneurs:

• Commitment to hard work: 64%
• Knowing the right people (influencers, investors, etc.): 49%
• Perseverance through challenging times: 49%

Career Priorities: Gen Z values a balanced and meaningful work-life experience:

• Work-life balance: 50%
• Career growth and skill development: 50%
• Job stability and security: 47%

Key Skills for Overall Success: Gen Z recognizes the importance of personal growth and adaptability:

• Willingness to learn: 47%
• Creativity: 44%
• Leadership and management abilities: 40%

Preferred Industries by Gender ID: When asked which industries most attract them or are most promising for their future careers, Gen Z respondents overall said Entertainment and Media (33%), Technology (30%), and Design (30%)… BUT:

• The leading response among female and female-identifying respondents was Healthcare (37%) followed by Design and Entertainment (both at 30%).
• Technology is the leading response among male and male-identifying respondents at 43%, followed by Entertainment at 35%.

Emphasizing problem-based learning (PBL), environmental sustainability, and now social impact entrepreneurship, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is an award-winning national competition dedicated to fostering innovation among U.S. public middle and high school students. It challenges them to explore the transformative potential of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) in addressing significant issues within their local communities.

In response to Gen Z’s entrepreneurial mindset, a new national “Rising Entrepreneurship Award” worth $25,000 has been introduced. This award emphasizes the competition’s commitment to nurturing solutions that extend beyond the competition, becoming scalable ventures that shape the future workforce. Alongside this, the Sustainability Innovation Award, established in 2021, complements the effort to address environmental concerns. In total, over $2 million* in Samsung technology and classroom supplies will be awarded to STEM educators, advancing the mission of inspiring and equipping the next generation of STEM leaders.

As Gen Z continues to shape the future of work, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow remains committed to supporting their journey. To learn more about the Solve for Tomorrow STEM competition, which is accepting entries now through October 27, 2023, please visit samsung.com/solve.

About the “The Rise of Gen Z and the Future of Work” Survey

The research was conducted in October 2023 by Morning Consult on behalf of Samsung Solve for Tomorrow to understand the perspectives and expectations of Gen Z on the future of work and how they envision their career trajectories within a rapidly evolving landscape. This study is based on a nationally representative sample of approximately 1,003 16- to 25-year-old students from across the U.S., with a margin of error of +/- 3%. The composition of the respondent pool varied across educational backgrounds, with 537 having a high school education or less, 342 having some college education, 89 being college graduates, and 35 holding postgraduate degrees.

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

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Today’s Gen Z middle and high school students are passionate problem-solvers who share an important trait with the influencers who drive much of social media: their readiness to translate their passions into enterprises. That’s a perspective shared by Ann Woo, Head of Corporate Citizenship at Samsung Electronics America in her latest opinion piece for Fast Company.

Drawing on her experience leading Solve for Tomorrow, a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education driver that fosters innovation and problem-solving skills among public school students through annual STEM competitions, Ann writes that Gen Z-ers “are at heart creators and consumers, tech- and social-media-savvy individuals who aspire to be ‘makers’ while sharing an innate empathy for their peers and their communities. They see the world as a continuum that cuts across the traditional structure of the subjects—science, history, art, economics—many teachers and parents expect schools to teach. And they are more in touch with national and global concepts of community than cohorts before them.”

One consequence is that Gen Z students present complex challenges and opportunities for the STEM education profession. This has deep implications for keeping students engaged in STEM, and for supporting teachers with professional development programs that maintain their motivation and enthusiasm as active participants in this new education paradigm.

As for their future employers, Ann emphasizes the importance for businesses seeking to hire this next-gen tech workforce to take action now. This entails dedicating time and resources to develop strategies and programs that encourage and harness Gen-Z’s entrepreneurial instincts.

It’s what Samsung has done through Solve for Tomorrow – which over its 14-year history has donated more than $24 million in prize packages to competition winners – and inspired a new generation of STEM savvy creators. This year, Solve for Tomorrow upped the innovation ante by adding a new award – the Rising Entrepreneurship Award – to the list of national awards.

Citing three examples of Solve for Tomorrow student projects that have morphed into ongoing “social enterprises” – businesses that continue to contribute to their local communities long after their school’s prize-winning turns, Ann offers advice for companies that want to do their part in connecting with and encouraging entrepreneurship in STEM programs in their area schools:

• Start locally: Engage with a local school or even an area school district to find out their needs in STEM education and where your particular skill set or product mix can contribute.
• Focus on helping translate community-focused school projects into an ongoing social enterprise: Encourage programs that can help self-fund further STEM activity; consider incorporating an employee mentorship program into this effort.
• Include teachers in your planning: They are the change agents whose latent business development capabilities need to be nurtured.

You can learn more about Solve for Tomorrow’s powerful impact on STEM education and Samsung’s role in advancing student entrepreneurship in Ann’s full Fast Company article.

And to learn more about the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM competition itself, which is accepting entries now through October 27, 2023, please visit samsung.com/solve.

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The education leaders will provide schools with installation and maintenance services for Samsung Interactive Displays, as well as professional development resources

Samsung Electronics America, Inc., an industry leader in the global display market, announced today its partnership with STS EDUCATION, a respected education technology solutions provider, to supply Samsung Interactive Displays to schools looking to energize classroom learning. Through the partnership, schools that order Samsung Interactive Displays will receive installation and ongoing maintenance services from STS EDUCATION and access to Samsung’s professional development resources.

Launched at the 2023 ISTELive conference, the Samsung Interactive Display (model name: WAC) is an all-in-one collaboration hub that fosters classroom engagement and hands-on, active learning. Available in 65-, 75- and 86-inch models, the Interactive Display is built on the Android OS to provide intuitive usability for educators, enabling them to integrate the display with their lesson plans and favorite instructional tools right out of the box. Educators and students can wirelessly connect their own devices to the board and share and interact with content in real time. To further enhance classroom interactivity, a multi-touch feature allows up to 20 users to simultaneously write and draw on the board with a specially designed pen or their fingers.

“A national poll from Gradient Learning found that 80 percent of educators are concerned about their students’ engagement levels in the classroom,” said James Fishler, Senior Vice President, Display & Home Entertainment Divisions, Samsung Electronics America. “As a result, educators and academic leaders are working tirelessly to address this critical challenge. Forward-thinking districts realize that the old-school practices like traditional lectures don’t resonate with today’s learners and are instead embracing new-age solutions, including the Samsung Interactive Display, which promote active participation among students, helping to draw their attention to lessons, boost their knowledge retention and ultimately reach their full potential.”

STS EDUCATION will first supply Samsung Interactive Displays to a major metropolitan public school district in California. For every school’s order of Samsung Interactive Displays, STS EDUCATION will provide installation services to facilitate the easy integration of the displays into each classroom. STS EDUCATION will offer ongoing support and maintenance services as part of a five-year product warranty to ensure the displays continue to enable the seamless flow of lesson delivery and collaborative learning.

“Samsung and STS EDUCATION share a commitment to enhancing classroom experiences for both students and educators,” said Marc Netka, CEO and Founder, STS EDUCATION. “Our partnership enables us to meet this goal by providing schools with the most innovative technology solutions available and equipping students for success in the digital age.”

To help educators unlock the full potential of their Interactive Displays, Samsung provides customized in-person or virtual workshops based on a catalog of 60+ professional development courses that cover strategies for improving classroom management, accessibility, student collaboration, digital citizenship and more. Each workshop will be led by the Samsung Education Coach team, a cohort of former teachers, published instructional design experts and certified Google Educators and Innovators. STS EDUCATION offers additional resources for educators through Learn.EC, which allows school districts to consolidate their professional development initiatives, from new technology and curriculum to compliance for teachers and supporting staff. Learn.EC delivers anytime, anywhere access to personalized micro-courses, activity-based learning with feedback, digital badging, live training and reporting.

Continuing its investment in student ingenuity and innovation, Samsung is celebrating the 14th year of its Solve For Tomorrow competition. Since 2010, Solve For Tomorrow has asked teacher-led student teams to harness Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) to create innovative solutions to critical issues impacting their communities. The competition provides students a chance to win $100,000 in Samsung products and classroom materials for their school. To date, Samsung has awarded $25 million in technology and classroom supplies to more than 3,500 public schools across the United States.

For information on how to submit an application for Solve For Tomorrow before the competition’s extended deadline at 11:59 p.m. ET on Tuesday, November 14th, 2023, please visit www.samsung.com/solve. To learn more about how Samsung Displays transform teaching and learning, please visit: www.samsung.com/us/business/solutions/industries/education/.

About STS EDUCATION

STS EDUCATION is a technology solutions company located in Southern California with distribution facilities throughout the US. For more than 15 years STS has been providing the right technology for less money to K-12 schools and has been recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest-growing privately-held companies since 2012. From Second-Life Hardware with a lifetime parts warranty to complete IT and Network Management solutions, STS is an industry leader with a foundation built on legendary customer service.

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By KS Choi, President & CEO, Samsung Electronics North America

As we reflect on Samsung Electronics‘ 54-year heritage, we see a legacy that embodies the essence of innovation and co-prosperity.

Samsung’s passion for innovation has been the driving force behind our journey. Over the decades, we’ve pioneered countless technological advancements that have transformed the way people live, work and connect. From groundbreaking developments in consumer electronics to cutting-edge solutions in semiconductor technology, we’ve consistently pushed the boundaries of what’s possible.

This commitment to innovation is deeply intertwined with our belief in co-prosperity. We recognize that true progress cannot be achieved in isolation. It requires collaboration, partnership and a shared vision for a brighter tomorrow. Our innovations are not just about creating products. In my three years as Samsung Electronics North America President and CEO, I have experienced firsthand how they’re about creating opportunities, empowering individuals and driving positive change in society.

Our citizenship work is firmly rooted in our aspiration to empower future generations to achieve their full potential. We are devoted to pioneering positive social change, demonstrating our commitment through programs and acts of service in classrooms and communities. This unwavering dedication has been a guiding light in our journey.

Our Commitment to STEM Education

One of the key pillars of our citizenship vision is our dedication to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education and empowering our future generation as leaders. As one of the largest technology companies in the world, we embrace the stewardship required to advance STEM to the forefront of education. We believe it is our duty, even our obligation, to contribute to STEM literacy and inspire more people to pursue STEM education and careers. In fact, Samsung Electronics North America has made STEM education a prominent part of our corporate agenda, actively investing in programs that educate and uplift the next generation of diverse thinkers, innovators, changemakers and activists.

In 2010, we took a meaningful role in boosting interest, proficiency and diversity in STEM with our flagship citizenship program, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow. Not only is it our most successful North American citizenship program, Solve for Tomorrow was first created in the U.S. by Samsung Electronics America and then adopted as the largest Samsung citizenship program around the world.

Emphasizing problem-based learning (PBL) and social impact entrepreneurship, this multi award-winning national competition challenges U.S. public school students to explore the role STEM can play in solving significant issues in their local communities. Personally, hosting the finals in D.C. last Spring was a highlight, as I got to interact with students and see first-hand the passion and creativity of young minds dedicated to solving real-world challenges through STEM. It excites me to know that STEM classrooms across the country look forward to and plan for the start of each competition year.

Beyond the annual competition itself, Solve for Tomorrow has branched out, becoming a community and giving rise to a series of offshoot programs that support stakeholders groups:

• Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Employee Mentors: Solve for Tomorrow engages and energizes Samsung’s North American workforce through a volunteer employee mentor program providing participating schools real-world insights from our incredible tech practitioners and through employee voting to pick a national Employee Choice award winner. The mentoring roles especially have been a great source of pride for our employees.
• Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Teacher Academy: Launched in 2019, this immersive professional development program enhances STEM teaching for educators who have participated in Samsung Solve for Tomorrow in the U.S. It equips them with skills, such as PBL, design-thinking, empathy development, environmental stewardship, and social impact entrepreneurship. Over the past five years, Teacher Academy has positively impacted more than 250 educators, who in turn inspired over 7,500 American STEM learners.
• Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Alumni Network: The Alumni Network is an online community for the curious-minded. The community consists of Solve for Tomorrow students, teachers other highly motivated hand raisers in North America that are sharing ideas on how to creatively engage students about STEM, foster critical thinking skills, and encourage collaboration through problem-based learning activities. We are proud to see these young students flourish in their academic pursuits, becoming STEM professionals, scholars, and active civic leaders in their communities.

Kicking off last year, we took our dedication to STEM to an even higher level by introducing a virtual educational program named Samsung Innovation Campus to offer Millennials and Gen Z women practical education in emerging technologies, specifically artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), enhancing their employment prospects and fostering much-needed gender diversity in tech. The 2022 and 2023 cohorts helped propel these women into promising career paths in these cutting-edge fields, making strides in addressing the industry’s pipeline problem.

Through these programs, we aim to create a future where STEM is accessible to all, regardless of background or circumstance. We believe that by doing so, we are contributing to a more equitable and prosperous society.

Our Dedication to Community Engagement & Employee Giving

But our commitment to co-prosperity extends beyond education. We also believe in making a tangible impact in the areas where we live and work. After all, we can only succeed when our communities also succeed. Through various community engagement and employee giving programs, we empower our employees to be active proponents of our mission.

Samsung Gives is our marquee employee service initiative, which is designed to provide support for and show solidarity with local communities through service. Our primary focus areas revolve around STEM education, as well as environmental sustainability. I find it to be incredibly meaningful to witness our employees coming together to support our companywide Day of Service, as well making donations and leveraging their skills to help such nonprofits as Boys & Girls Clubs of America, DonorsChoose, Junior Achievement and United Way in the U.S. and Autism Speaks Canada and SickKids in Canada accelerate their missions. And for Samsung’s part, we’ve exemplified our commitment by making significant financial and technology donations to these nonprofits, further enriching their crucial work in the community.

For example, in the U.S., Samsung has actively supported 1,300 classroom campaigns with DonorsChoose, making a substantial impact on the learning environments of students across the nation. In Canada, Samsung has donated over 5,000 tablets to families, schools and autism service providers to support their educational pursuits, through our partnership with Autism Speaks Canada. And we’ve pledged a $1 million commitment to SickKids, Canada’s foremost research-intensive hospital and the largest center dedicated to enhancing children’s health in the country.

What’s more, our Samsung Gives initiatives, such as the Day of Service, Intern Day of Service, Volunteer Time Off and Employee Match Program, really empower our employees to make a difference and support causes close to their hearts. The cumulative matching contribution by employees and our company since its inception has reached an impressive $6 million.

Of note, North America remains the only region worldwide that has successfully implemented a scaled companywide Day of Service – a tradition we’ve upheld for the past 13 years. We branch out from coast to coast to support various charities during business hours. This model sets a noteworthy example for corporate giving worldwide. In fact, I personally participated in sandwich making for Oasis, a nonprofit in Paterson, New Jersey, for children in afterschool care programs during our last Day of Service earlier this month. I learned that the sandwiches served a dual purpose. For some students, they were just an afternoon snack. For others, they were a take-home dinner or even a weekend meal.

We also work closely with our ERGs – Unidos, PRIDE, Galaxy of Black Professionals, Next Generation Leaders, Veterans Community, Women+ in Samsung Electronics – to strengthen our community outreach programs by integrating diverse community partners into our Samsung Gives employee volunteerism campaigns, such as The Resource Center, Team Rubicon and Year Up. This ERG-led inclusive volunteerism approach fosters deeper connections and a shared sense of purpose.

In closing, I believe our heritage of innovation, citizenship and community engagement is a testament to our unwavering commitment to co-prosperity. It’s a legacy that continues to drive us forward as we strive to create a brighter, more inclusive and sustainable future for all. As we look ahead to the next 55 years and beyond, Samsung remains steadfast in our dedication to empowering individuals, fostering positive change and making a meaningful difference in the world. Together, we can build a future where co-prosperity is not just a value, but a reality for all!

The post KS Choi: Igniting Innovation, Fostering Community Involvement & Forging a Lasting Legacy at Samsung Electronics North America appeared first on Samsung US Newsroom.

For this year’s ‘Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Alumni: Where Are They Now?’ series, we’re catching up with students who have competed in our national STEM competition to discover more about life after Solve. We’re learning how Solve for Tomorrow impacted the students and the trajectory of their higher education and career path, as well as the overall importance of STEM education.

What was your path from Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM competition winner to where you are today?

Solve for Tomorrow awakened my love for Electrical Engineering; it really solidified what I wanted to do with my life. Spurred by our team’s work on AcceleRoute, I decided to major in Electrical Engineering in college, and was honored to be accepted by Norfolk State University into its prestigious Dozoretz National Institute for Mathematics and Applied Sciences (DNIMAS) program. For me, DIMAS really is a continuation of the path I started down by helping develop AcceleRoute. Norfolk State created DNIMAS to reduce the shortage of scientists by producing highly trained graduates capable of earning Ph.D.s and medical degrees – the same way Solve for Tomorrow aims to excite young students with the possibilities and potential of STEM.

What was the origin of the AcceleRoute project?

We created AcceleRoute to fix a very real problem for our school – and for the larger Chesapeake community. The COVID pandemic had really impacted school transportation in our area – by causing a shortage of school bus drivers. When we returned to school in the fall of 2021, the driver shortage meant there just weren’t enough buses rolling to get all our students to school on time. Drivers who did report to work had to cover more and longer routes than before, substitute drivers didn’t know the routes well, and on certain days, some routes just weren’t covered. All of which meant students were arriving late, missing a lot of early classes, having problems getting home or to work if they had after school jobs. It was just a mess. It got so bad, I even considered walking to school.

To some people, that might sound like a minor inconvenience, but it really impacted the community as a whole. When school transportation isn’t working as expected, parents can be delayed getting to their own jobs, or have to make alternate transportation or childcare arrangements for their kids. It can mean more cars on the road if parents have to drive, while the bus drivers who do report for duty are working long hours under increased pressure. Late school arrivals can even mean poorer nutrition for children who count on having breakfast at school.

When our teacher Paula Labbe asked us to decide on a community problem we could address with STEM, bus transportation was right there. In fact, our research showed that Great Bridge schools weren’t alone: nationwide at that time 65% of schools reported that bus driver shortages were their #1 problem.

But if the bus driver shortage was right in front of us – so was a path to a solution. My father works for FedEX – and I knew that delivery companies use mapping application tools to help drivers plot out efficient routes. That was the seed of our AcceleRoute idea – to apply our STEM skills to develop a personalized, efficient, and greener route for each driver based on the home locations of the students they are transporting on each run. We gave every student a card with their address programmed on it and as they boarded the bus, they would swipe the card through a card reader linked to an app that then determined the most efficient route to transport all the students between home and school and back again, reducing travel time and increasing each driver’s effectiveness.

How did the community respond?

That was impressive. Our fellow students, our families and friends, the whole community, were incredibly supportive, from friends who didn’t have to worry about late busses messing up schedules, to parents who didn’t have to scramble to give kids lifts after school, to the mayor who reached out to personally congratulate us. AcceleRoute got a ton of local media coverage, and with classmates campaigning for us, we even won that year’s Solve for Tomorrow Community Choice Award, which added to our prize package from Samsung.

Extending that positive response, when Great Bridge used the prize package to build a state-of-the-art STEM Collaboration Lab, interest in the school’s STEM courses jumped, and fellow students were helping to make the lab a reality, painting walls and helping move stuff in. It’s also great to feel that our team was making a start on giving back to the school and community by enabling that facility. The Collaboration Lab is now being used by all teachers at the school to give students the opportunity to use innovative technology and collaboration skills to prepare them for the future.

What’s the most important thing you learned or took away from Samsung Solve for Tomorrow?

That our working together could bring the whole school together, and even bring our community together. It showed us all that even as high school students, you could have a positive impact, that if there’s a problem in the community, you have the power to fix it.

What’s your advice to STEM students and teachers who might consider entering Solve for Tomorrow next year?

My advice is “Just go for it!” It’s important for students to realize that there’s no such thing as a bad idea. If you focus and work hard, you can make your solution a valid solution that can fix the problem. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t. And don’t think you have to find some big global problem to address – it can be as small as a neighborhood issue. That’s the kind of thing I want to do more of, to get back to, and give back to, my community by continuing to identify and help solve issues using STEM.

To learn more about the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM competition, which is accepting entries now through November 14, 2023, please visit www.samsung.com/solve.

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Today, Samsung Electronics America proudly announces the selection of 300 public middle and high schools from all 50 states across America as State Finalists in the esteemed 14th annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow national STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) competition. Each State Finalist has secured a coveted $2,500 Samsung technology prize package, marking a significant milestone in their journey towards becoming one of three National Winners that each unlock $100,000 for their school. Overall, Samsung will award more than $2 million* in prizes to this year’s participating schools.

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is a nationwide competition designed to empower 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 U.S. Gen Z students to catalyze change by applying Problem-based Learning (PBL) principles, environmental stewardship, and entrepreneurship to address some of society’s most pressing challenges. It also promotes active, hands-on learning, making STEM more tangible and showcasing its real-world applications.

To view the full list of State Finalists, please visit Samsung.com/Solve. Notably, 50% of the State Finalists in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition are Title 1 schools, underscoring the program’s commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity. Reflecting Gen Z’s collective dedication to tackling pressing global challenges, 45% of the projects directly address issues related to the climate crisis, such as extreme weather like wildfires, hurricanes, and heat; microplastic pollution; air and water quality; the pollinator collapse; e-waste (electronic waste) risks; and light pollution. What’s more, this cohort of students are actively developing innovative solutions for a spectrum of other pressing societal issues, including accessibility, mental health matters like student anxiety and loneliness, food insecurity, cybersecurity, and aid for the unhoused and migrants.

Showcasing a forward-looking approach to problem-solving, 25% of the student STEM-based solutions embrace the use of emerging technologies, such as AI, 3D printing, and robotics. Moreover, a number of the entries exhibit promising elements of entrepreneurship, highlighting the students’ innovative thinking and potential for building impactful solutions that endure beyond the competition.

Ann Woo, Head of Corporate Citizenship at Samsung Electronics America, noted: “A STEM education is a critical pathway to the evolving future of work. We celebrate the dedication, ingenuity, and creativity of the 300 State Finalists who are not only showcasing their STEM prowess but, more importantly, addressing local community issues with meaningful solutions. Their commitment to making a tangible impact speaks volumes about the transformative power of education and technology. And the drive of these young innovators to be creators and makers, as displayed in these entries, resonates with the findings of our recent Samsung/Morning Consult survey on what Gen Z is seeking for their futures.”

Upcoming Competition Phases

For the next phase of the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition, teachers must create a focused activity plan. This plan outlines how their students will execute their STEM project, including defining the problem, proposing a STEM-based solution, specifying project objectives, detailing activities to reach anticipated goals, and articulating the expected improvement within their local community resulting from the project’s successful implementation. The activity plans are due Thursday, January 11, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Following the submission of activity plans, judges will select State Winners from today’s announced State Finalists, with the winners set to be revealed in late January 2024.

Other upcoming competition phases include:

• 50 State Winners will receive a Samsung Video Kit to assist in the development of their “STEM solution pitch video,” as well as $12,000 in Samsung technology
• One of the 50 State Winner schools will be recognized as visionaries for driving sustainable change through STEM innovation with a Sustainability Innovation Award, and an additional $50,000 prize package that includes Samsung ENERGY STAR® technology
• One State Winner will be selected for the new Rising Entrepreneurship Award, receiving a $25,000 prize package to foster the development of a scalable, sustainable venture that extend beyond the competition
• 10 National Finalist Schools will participate in a live pitch event where they will present their project to a panel of judges. Seven of these schools will be awarded $50,000 in Samsung technology and classroom supplies
• A Community Choice Winner will also be determined through online voting by the general public, winning an additional $10,000 in prizes
• An Employee Choice Winner will be selected by Samsung employees to receive $10,000 in prizes in addition to their National Finalist winnings
• Judges will name 3 National Winners, each of whom earns a prize package worth $100,000

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow launched in 2010 as a way to boost interest, proficiency, and diversity in STEM. The education-based citizenship program is now a catalyst for a change in the perception of STEM, a crucial aspect in fostering a skilled 21st century workforce and informed citizens of the modern world. To date, Solve for Tomorrow has awarded $27 million in Samsung technology and classroom supplies to 3,500-plus public schools across the United States. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

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

The post 300 State Finalists Shine in Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM Competition, Nearing $100,000 Prize Potential appeared first on Samsung US Newsroom.

What direction should forward-thinking companies take in preparing for a future dominated by Gen Z, both as businesses and employers? In her latest Fast Company opinion article, Samsung Electronics America’s Head of Corporate Citizenship Ann Woo shares insights gleaned from leading Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow STEM competition about Gen Z and their career aspirations.

Importantly, business leaders need to ask the right questions, and then “listen, listen, listen!” For Ann, that means listening intently – listening to learn, not merely to hear what’s said. Business leaders should be listening to the community at large, listening to Gen Z as they are creating the future, and listening to the data and what it can tell us about the way forward.

According to Ann, companies need to embrace Gen Z’s entrepreneurial spirit in combination with their focus on creating positive change. Also, feed Gen Z’s appetite for professional development, address their concerns about AI, and provide flexibility to improve work-life balance, among other considerations.

Read Ann’s full Fast Company byline here.

To learn more about the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM competition, please visit www.samsung.com/solve.

The post Fast Company: Ann Woo on Aligning Your Company’s Future of Work with Gen Z’s Preferences appeared first on Samsung US Newsroom.

Samsung Electronics America today announced that 50 schools have advanced as State Winners in the esteemed 14th annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow national STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) competition. Each State Winner has earned a Samsung technology prize package worth $12,000; the full list of State Winners is available at Samsung.com/Solve. These Gen Z innovators now move forward in their quest to be named one of three National Winners that each unlock $100,000 for their school. Overall, Samsung will award more than $2 million* in prizes to this year’s participating schools.

State Winners were selected from among 300 State Finalist public middle and high schools who submitted detailed lesson plans outlining how their students propose using STEM to address an important community issue. Sustainability, public health, and accessibility featured prominently in the solutions outlined by the State Winners, as were projects that had cultural significance, such as those dedicated to preserving endangered crops of cultural importance to communities, and safeguarding endangered indigenous languages.

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is a nationwide competition designed to empower 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 U.S. Gen Z students to catalyze change by applying Problem-based Learning (PBL) principles, environmental stewardship, and entrepreneurship to address some of society’s most pressing challenges. The competition also promotes active, hands-on learning, making STEM more tangible and showcasing its real-world applications.

Gen Z’s Commitment to Community Through Innovation

Ann Woo, Head of Corporate Citizenship at Samsung Electronics America, noted: “Working with students involved with Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, we’ve heard time and again that helping people in their local communities and society at large are key motivators. That’s certainly borne out by this year’s round of Gen Z-led STEM projects, where roughly one-third of our finalists are focused on solving public health issues, and another third on promoting environmental sustainability. Accessibility for people with disabilities, public safety, and agriculture were also top trending projects.”

Stuyvesant High School, NY with Executive Director of Center for Independence of the Disabled New York (CIDNY), Dr. Sharon McLennon Wier

Showcasing a forward-looking approach to problem-solving, nearly half of the student STEM-based solutions embrace the use of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), 3D printing, big data analytics, geo-mapping, and robotics. Moreover, a number of the entries exhibit promising elements of entrepreneurship, or incorporate design thinking principles, highlighting the students’ innovative approaches and potential for building impactful solutions that endure beyond the competition.

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Fast Company: Ann Woo on Aligning Your Company’s Future of Work with Gen Z’s Preferences

Upcoming Competition Phases

Each State Winner will receive a video production kit from Samsung to help document their project and produce a three-minute video demonstrating how they are using STEM to address the community issue raised in their lesson plan. Samsung employees will once again serve as mentors, assigned to the State Winners on a one-to-one basis to help guide the student teams as they develop their projects and build a prototype. State Winners will need to submit their videos for review ahead of the video deadline on Thursday, March 7, 2024 by 11:59 p.m. ET.

Based on the State Winners’ video submissions:

• One school will be honored as a climate visionary with a Sustainability Innovation Award for driving sustainable change through STEM innovation, and an additional $50,000 prize package that includes Samsung ENERGY STAR^® technology
• One school will be selected for the new Rising Entrepreneurship Award, receiving a $25,000 prize package to foster the development of a scalable, sustainable venture that will extend beyond the competition
• 10 National Finalist Schools will be chosen to participate in a live, in-person pitch event in April where they will present their project to a panel of judges. From the National Finalists:
  • Judges will name 3 National Winners, each of whom earns a prize package worth $100,000
  • The remaining seven National Finalist schools will be awarded $50,000 in Samsung technology and classroom supplies
  • A Community Choice Winner will be determined through online voting by the general public, winning an additional $10,000 in prizes
  • An Employee Choice Winner will be selected by Samsung employees to receive $10,000 in prizes in addition to their National Finalist winnings

Pineville Middle School, WV

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow launched in 2010 as a way to boost interest, proficiency, and diversity in STEM. The education-based citizenship program is now a catalyst for a change in the perception of STEM, a crucial aspect in fostering a skilled future workforce and informed citizens of the modern world. To date, Solve for Tomorrow has awarded $27 million in Samsung technology and classroom supplies to 3,500-plus public schools across the United States. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

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

The post 50 State Winners Named in Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM Competition appeared first on Samsung US Newsroom.