Student from Princeton High participating in the competition
Samsung Electronics America announced the advancement of 50 schools as State Winners in the 14th annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow national STEM competition. Each winning school has been awarded a Samsung technology prize package valued at $12,000. These winners, selected from 300 State Finalist public middle and high schools, proposed STEM-based solutions to address significant community issues such as sustainability, public health, and accessibility. The projects also highlighted cultural importance, including the preservation of endangered crops and indigenous languages.
The competition encourages students in grades 6–12 to use STEM to solve local community challenges, promoting Problem-based Learning (PBL), environmental stewardship, and entrepreneurship. This year, Gen Z students focused on public health, environmental sustainability, and other critical issues, with nearly half of the projects utilizing emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and 3D printing.
Looking ahead, State Winners will receive video production kits from Samsung to document their projects. They will be mentored by Samsung employees and must submit a three-minute video by March 7, 2024. Awards in the next phases include a Sustainability Innovation Award and a Rising Entrepreneurship Award, with the final round featuring 10 National Finalists competing in a live pitch event for a chance to win additional technology prizes and funding for their schools.
Since its inception in 2010, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow has aimed to enhance STEM education, awarding $27 million in technology and supplies to over 3,500 public schools across the U.S. The program seeks to change perceptions of STEM and prepare a skilled future workforce.