Coweeman Middle School has been named a State Winner in the 14th annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition, receiving a $12K prize package in Samsung technology.
Coweeman eighth graders Mackenzie Lee, Claire Cheslock, Sequoia Lamperth, and Adison Mean secured this spot with their project of creating a generator that can harness the kinetic energy of water to power small devices like phones and flashlights in the event of an outage. This team progressed from being one of 300 State Finalists to one of 50 State Winners.
“I was incredibly excited,” said Adison Mean, “but still nervous for the next round of judging."
The process has been “tedious, but extremely rewarding,” Claire Cheslock added. “I think it’s been a very good learning opportunity.”
Their Advanced Science teacher, Jennifer Echtle agrees. “These smart young ladies are passionate about learning and doing some good for the world,” said Echtle. “The learning curve for this project is staggering and they are conquering their goals one at a time.”
Taking a community-minded approach, the team has created a partnership with Cowlitz County Emergency Management to look at the application of their project.
"Our next steps are to solidify our plans, gather our materials, build our generator, and submit our video," said Mackenzie Lee. In addition to the $12K package, a Samsung Video Kit is being sent to assist the team in the development of their STEM solution pitch video.
“We are very proud of the innovative solution these four young ladies have developed. The ability to keep informed, communicate with family, and report safety needs is essential in times of disaster,” said Rob Birdsell, principal of Coweeman Middle School. “We look forward to their continued work and recognition in this endeavor.”
When asked about their chances of moving forward, Sequoia Lamperth said, "It has been going well so far, but we have stronger competitors and more work ahead of us. If we work hard and come up with a good prototype by the deadline, we might have a shot at becoming a National Winner."
From the 50 State Winners, 10 National Finalists will be announced on or about March 26, 2024.
Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is a national competition designed to empower students in grades 6-12 to leverage the power of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) to create innovative solutions addressing critical issues in their local communities.
The competition empowers public middle and high school students to catalyze change by applying Problem-based Learning (PBL) principles, environmental stewardship, and entrepreneurship to address some of society's most pressing challenges.
The full list of 50 State Winners can be found here.
STEM skills are key to a thriving workforce and new approaches in education are vital. Between 2022 and 2032, the number of STEM jobs are projected to grow 10.8%, a higher rate than non-STEM jobs.
About Solve for Tomorrow Samsung Solve for Tomorrow was designed to boost interest, proficiency, and diversity in STEM. Next in the competition:
- Of the 50 State Winners:
- One will be recognized as visionaries for driving sustainable change through STEM innovation with a Sustainability Innovation Award, and an additional $50K prize package that includes Samsung ENERGY STAR® technology
- One will be selected for the new Rising Entrepreneurship Award, receiving a $25K prize package to foster the development of a scalable, sustainable venture that extends beyond the competition
- 10 National Finalist Schools will participate in a live pitch event where they will present their project to a panel of judges. Seven of these schools will be awarded $50K in Samsung tech and classroom supplies
- Judges will name 3 National Winners, each of whom earns a prize package worth $100K
For more information on the competition, go here. For media questions about Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, please reach out to Nancy Zakhary: SamsungSFT@relev8.co