Vermont Business Magazine Five Vermont schools are among the nation’s 255 state finalists in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest, a program that encourages students to solve real-world issues in their community using classroom skills in science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM). The state finalist schools were chosen based on their creative and strategic proposals to solve complicated issues that affect their communities by using STEAM learning. As state finalists, each classroom will receive one Samsung Galaxy Tab and the opportunity to advance in the competition and win additional prizes.
With $2 million* in technology on the line, teachers from the five State Finalist schools will submit a lesson plan outlining how students will tackle the local issue using STEAM skills to ultimately improve the greater community. They will also identify a local nonprofit organization to receive a donation if the school wins the contest.
Vermont state finalists and the issue they plan to address:
1. Enosburg Falls High School, Enosburg Falls– Create a poster and social campaign to encourage kindness and compassion
2. Vergennes Union High School, Vergennes – Protect and improve the water quality of nearby Lake Champlain
3. North Country Union Junior High School, Derby – Create model to ensure every student has high quality access to the Internet
4. Irasburg Village School, Irasburg – Free workshops for the community to learn and improve in technology
5. Hartford High School, White River Junction – Inspire creativity to problem solve with the implementation of 3D printing technology
· The 255 state finalists will create lesson plans that put their ideas into action.
· From there, 51 state winners (representing all 50 states plus Washington, DC) will be selected and receive $25,000* in technology for their school. State Winners will be revealed in December.
· From the pool of 51 state winners, 10 national finalists will be selected. The national finalists will then pitch their idea live in New York to a panel of judges and America will be able to vote on their favorite ideas.
· Three national winners will be named and honored at an awards ceremony in Washington, DC, where they will also get the opportunity to meet their Congressmen and Senators. The winning schools will receive a $150,000* technology grant as well as a $20,000* donation to their NGO of choice.
· Local teachers and past winners available for interviews about the local issue they’re working to solve and the importance of hands-on STEAM learning.