Samsung kicks off 2024-2025 Solve for Tomorrow STEM competition with $2 Million in prizes
Samsung Electronics America has announced the launch of the 2024-2025 Solve for Tomorrow competition, marking the 15th anniversary of this nationwide initiative.
The competition invites public middle and high school students across the United States to develop STEM-based solutions to local issues and will distribute more than $2 million in technology and classroom supplies to participating schools this year.
Since its inception in 2010, the Solve for Tomorrow competition has aimed to enhance interest and proficiency in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education. Over the past 15 years, the programme has awarded over $27 million in technology and supplies to over 4,000 public schools, impacting more than 600,000 students nationwide.
Ann Woo, Head of Corporate Citizenship at Samsung Electronics America, reflected on the competition's journey, stating, "Over 15 years of service, we’re immensely proud of what Samsung Solve for Tomorrow and participating schools, students, and teachers have achieved for the benefit of their communities."
The 2024-2025 competition
The 2024-2025 competition invites U.S. public school educators to submit applications by Thursday, October 24, 2024. The programme encourages students from grades 6 to 12 to identify significant community challenges and propose innovative STEM solutions. Teachers from all disciplines—not just STEM—are encouraged to apply, making the competition accessible to a wide range of educators and students.
At the entry stage, educators must answer three questions outlining how their students would use STEM to address a critical community need. Following the initial submission, the competition will proceed through several phases:
State Finalists: 300 schools will be selected as State Finalists, each receiving a $2,500 Samsung technology prize package.
State Winners: From these finalists, 50 State Winners will receive a Samsung Video Kit and $12,000 in technology to create a "STEM solution pitch video." Additionally, Sustainability Innovation and Rising Entrepreneurship awards will be presented, each accompanied by a $25,000 prize package.
National Finalists: 10 schools will advance to the National Finals, where they will present their projects in a live pitch event. Seven schools will receive $50,000 in prizes, with additional awards determined by public and employee voting.
National Winners: Finally, three National Winners will be selected, each earning a prize package worth $100,000.
A legacy of impact
Over the years, the Solve for Tomorrow competition has evolved from a simple essay contest into a comprehensive programme incorporating problem-based learning, entrepreneurship, and environmental stewardship. Projects from past competitions have addressed various issues, from urban decay and social justice to environmental conservation and public health.
As Samsung looks to the future, the company is eager to see the innovative solutions that this year's participants will develop, particularly as emerging technologies like AI, 3D printing, and robotics play an increasingly important role in STEM education.
Woo highlighted the programme’s role in promoting equity in STEM education, noting:
“Solve for Tomorrow has inspired students nationwide, from addressing urban decay in Michigan to safeguarding social justice in Pennsylvania, protecting pollinators in Texas, devising wildfire warning technology in California, preventing heat-related illnesses in sports in Florida, and using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in New Jersey to preserve endangered indigenous languages. It’s been a catalyst for meaningful change across the U.S.”
