Smart tech ideas win students Samsung prize
Student whizzes from five schools around the country took back $120,000 each to be used towards technology in Samsung’s “Solve for Tomorrow” competition.
The contest challenges groups of students in grades 6-12 to come up with a STEM- or technology-driven solution to a problem plaguing their communities. The winners were selected from a pool of more than 4,100 school groups that submitted their proposals in October about how they would apply science, technology, engineering and math to mitigate issues facing their communities.
According to a press release, the winners are:
Mission Valley ROP/James Logan High School, California
Students designed and constructed a fully-functional, solar-powered charging station for their Bay Area neighborhood – the region with the highest number of electric vehicles on the roads today. They were named the Community Choice Winner, selected by a public vote on Instagram and Twitter. View their video submission: James Logan High School.
Brooklyn Technical High School, New York
After three fellow students were tragically hit and killed by cars, students developed a smartwatch app that warns pedestrians of oncoming vehicles. They were named the Samsung Ambassador Choice Winner, by a vote of Samsung employees. View their video submission: Brooklyn Technical High School.
Horizon Middle School, Colorado
Students living near Buckley Air Force Base have family members and friends and know other residents who have lost limbs while serving abroad and struggle with the cost of prosthetics. The students designed a comfortable, cost-effective prosthetic enhancement for one of the local wounded veterans. They were selected by the judges at the Pitch Event held at Samsung 837 in New York City in March. View their video submission: Horizon Middle School.
Ridgewood Middle School, Missouri
The students noticed that some of their peers with disabilities had trouble staying upright in their chairs, and so they used reinforced cardboard to engineer comfortable classroom furniture for their peers and have developed more than 20 pieces to date. They were selected by the judges at the Pitch Event held at Samsung 837 in New York City in March. View their video submission: Ridgewood Middle School.
Loudoun Valley High School, Virginia
With limited cell reception on the Washington and Old Dominion Trail, several hikers and cyclists have been injured or attacked and unable to call for help. The students designed a wireless, solar-powered and weatherproof safety alert system that rapidly connects to emergency services. They were selected by the judges at the Pitch Event held at Samsung 837 in New York City in March. View their video submission: Loudoun Valley High School.
The winners will head to Washington later this month for an awards ceremony, a tour of the White House and meetings with their representatives in Congress.
Reach the reporter at corinne.lestch@edscoop.com and follow her on Twitter @clestch and @edscoop_news.
