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Samsung STEM Contest To Award $2 Million in Technology

• By Stephen Noonoo
• 09/08/14

This year, Samsung’s annual Solve for Tomorrow STEM competition will focus on using science and technology concepts to improve local communities. Winning classrooms will share in almost $2 million in technology from the company and other partners.

The nationwide contest asks teachers to fill out an online application and discuss a local community issue and a STEM-focused solution their classroom could undertake. In November, five entrants from each state (and Washington D.C.) will be asked to execute their projects. From there, the company selects one winner from each state to proceed to the national finals where they present their projects to a live panel of judges.

State winners can receive about $20,000 in technology from Samsung, Adobe, and other partners. Five national winners each receive a $120,000 technology grant.

Last year, Montana’s Sunburst Middle School took a top prize for their proposal to replant farmland near a highway with alfalfa to help prevent salt from blowing onto the road. Another national winner, from New Jersey, used Autodesk Inventor software to create a sewer guard to stop garbage from entering local waterways.

"Science, technology, engineering, and math are vital for success in most 21st century careers," said Kimberly Bloch, a teacher at Sunburst Middle School in a statement. "I strongly encourage all teachers to enter the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow contest by answering the three simple questions and engaging your students in the exciting world of STEM. You never know where this challenge could lead. It could lead right to the White House, like it led us!" 

The first 5,000 teachers to enter will receive a professional development course from PBS TeacherLine. Entries close on October 31.