Pineville Middle School selected as finalist for STEM competition

Danielle Sandler
·3 min read

PINEVILLE, WV (WVNS) — Samsung Electronics America named 10 National Finalist schools for the 14th annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM Competition, one of which was Pineville Middle School.

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Each Nationalist Finalist will get a prize package for $50,000 that will go towards technology and classroom supplies.

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow wanted public school students to use their resources in grades 6 to 12 to create positive changes within their communities by using skills such as science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to improve local issues effecting their communities.

The Finalist teams, will present their projects displaying these issues at a live pitch event on April 29, 2024 to a panel of judges at the Samsung Solutions Center in Washington, D.C. On April 30, 2024. Only three schools will be chosen as National Winners and each will receive $100,000 in prizes.

“Samsung Solve for Tomorrow opens students’ eyes to real and relatable local issues, challenging them to use STEM in innovative ways to address those problems and catalyze positive change. This year has been incredibly inspiring to see our National Finalists, and frankly all participating schools that entered, apply empathy, problem-solving skills, and cutting-edge tech like artificial intelligence, 3D printing, and robotics to address concerns like accessibility for mobility-impaired individuals, youth suicide prevention, and the preservation of endangered Indigenous languages,” said Ann Woo, Head of Corporate Citizenship, Samsung Electronics America.

People can vote online only one time per day until April 23, 2024 for the Community Choice Winner from the 10 National Finalists. The project selected will receive another $10,000 prize package. Voting is open daily until 11:59 P.M.

The following is what the STEM solution that Pineville Middle School developed in order to be ranked in this contest:

  • West Virginia ranks first in the nation for its prevalence of poor physical health.

  • Tests revealed unsafe levels of halo acetic acid and trihalomethanes in their drinking water, where Pineville students took a different approach to take a cost efficient approach for locally sourced water filters.

  • Recycled bottles, 3D printed fittings, and charcoal granules were also utilized at a low-cost to ensure safe drinking water, where more of it can be learned here.

The following schools that were chosen for this competition include:

  • Hoover High School – Hoover, AL

  • Harvest Preparatory Academy – Yuma, AZ

  • Brandywine Preparatory Academy – Wilmington, DE

  • Wilton Community Schools – Wilton, IA

  • West Minico Middle School – Paul, ID

  • Green Street Academy High School – Baltimore, MD

  • Stillwater Middle School – Stillwater, MN

  • Princeton High School – Princeton, NJ

  • Pineville Middle School – Pineville, WV

  • CY Middle School – Casper, WY

What is coming up next in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition:

  • After the live Pitch Event on April 29, 2024 in Washington, in D.C. On April 30, judges will give awards, and the seven remaining will be awarded $50,000 for technology and classroom supplies.

  • One of the 50 State Winners will be honored as a climate visionary and receive the Sustainability Innovation Award and be awarded $50,000 for Samsung ENERGY STAR® technology.

  • One of the 50 State Winners, will be selected for the new Rising Entrepreneurship Award, receiving a $25,000 prize package.

  • Of the 10 National Finalists, a Community Choice Winner will be selected through online voting, and receive a $10,000 prize package in addition to their National Finalist winnings.

  • Samsung employees will name one student team this year’s Employee Choice Winner from the 10 National Finalists and achieve $10,000 in prizes.

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“It’s remarkable to watch Solve for Tomorrow students thrive as they discover their identities and find ways to contribute positively to their communities. Witnessing how they channel their passion into impactful projects is an amazing experience we’re privileged to be part of. These Gen Zers tell us that participating in the competition has empowered them to understand STEM’s potential, find their voice, connect with like-minded peers nationwide, and set themselves on the path to rewarding future careers,” Woo added.

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