Samsung, National PTA Partner for $1 Million STEM Video Competition
Entries for the third-annual Solve for Tomorrow program are now being accepted. Solve for Tomorrow is a contest that calls on teachers and students to compete for $1 million in prizes by submitting videos on the topics of science, technology, engineering, and math.
Solve for Tomorrow is put on by Samsung and its Hope for Children philanthropic organization in partnership with the Adobe Foundation/Adobe Youth Voices and DirecTV. This year the National PTA is also partnering for the effort.
"We as a nation need to make STEM education a top priority," said Betsy Landers, President of the National PTA, in a prepared statement. "According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 15 of the 20 fastest growing occupations projected for 2014 require significant mathematics or science preparation. It is clear that making STEM education a priority is important, for our nation's short and long-term future. We commend Samsung for their efforts in making a difference in the education and lives of children."
This year's contest asks participants to submit ideas on how science, technology, engineering, and math "can help improve the environment in their community."
To begin, participants submit an application detailing how to contest would be used to raise student interest in STEM-related disciplines, the ways in which students would participate in the project, and what the school's technology needs are.
Seventy-five applicants will be chosen to participate in the competition and will be given technology kits that will be used to create their videos. Those kits include a Samsung camcorder and laptop and Adobe creative software. (Participants keep the kits following the competition.)
From those 75, 15 will be chosen to receive at least $40,000 in equipment. Five will receive $110,000 in equipment.
"It's so good that companies like Samsung give us this opportunity to look around in our local communities to see what we can do to help," said past winner Gina McCarley, a teacher at Lawrence County High School in Moulton, AL, also in a prepared statement."I think it makes kids see how we all can make a difference and that we can do things bigger than we normally expect."
The Solve for Tomorrow challenge is open to students and teachers in grades 6 through 12. Applications are being accepted now through Oct. 31. Full details can be found at the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow portal.