East Greenwich High School Named National Finalist in the $2 million Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest
School will receive $40,000* in Samsung Technology Products and the opportunity to win additional prizes
East Greenwich, RI, March 1, 2016 - East Greenwich High School (EGHS) announced today that it has been named a national finalist in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow contest, a nationwide competition to increase interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) by challenging teachers and students to take topics out of traditional classroom settings and into local communities.
East Greenwich High School has moved on to the final round of the competition for its interest in using STEM to address the issue of plastic pollution in the community. EGHS is one of fifteen national finalists that were selected out of more than 4,100 applicants in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow contest. During the next phase of the competition, representatives from EGHS will travel to New York City to present the project to a panel of judges showcasing how the students are implementing their idea for helping their community.
Said EGHS Principal Michael Podraza: “The core of our mission as a school is we strive to empower all members of the EGHS community. We are also steadfast in the belief that in order to accomplish our mission we must be devoted to taking risks in order to inspire learning and discover passions, and the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow contest has afforded us the opportunity to do just that. We are very proud of our students and teaching staff for rising to take on this challenge and demonstrating for all to see, our core values of respect, creativity and innovation, relevance, enthusiasm, and achievement that are ubiquitous throughout the halls of EGHS.”
The application was spearheaded by the EGHS Biotechnology class, under the guidance of Science Department chair and teacher Mr. Nicholas Rath. The project, as detailed in the application, lays out their overall vision and purpose:
“As a coastal town in a state that is highly dependent on a clean environment to support its fishing and tourism economy, students have been become increasingly concerned about the volume of plastics used in the community that end up in local waterways and Narragansett Bay. The main idea of this project is to provide students with the STEM skills necessary to research, design and create biodegradable plastics from renewable sources such as plants. Known as bioplastics, these materials offer an ecologically better alternative to traditional petro-based polymers. In addition, we hope to raise awareness in the community of the ecological problems associated with plastic litter while also helping educate students on how best to dispose of waste.”
Said Mr. Rath: “This contest is proof that, when you give students the tools they need and the opportunity to make a difference in their community, they are truly capable of changing the world.”
There will be five National Winners selected. Three will be chosen by judges, one by Samsung employees, and one special Community Choice Award winner will be determined by votes cast within the Twitter and Instagram communities. Individuals can vote once a day every day during the “Public Voting Period” between March 1, 2016 and March 31, 2016 at: http://www.samsung.com/us/solvefortomorrow/finalists/.
According to Ben Markstone, a senior at EGHS and a student in the Biotechnology class: “It’s been an incredible opportunity to have such an immersive educational experience. The entire class has become very close, as we have spent countless hours focused on a singular goal. We’ve all learned so much, and my hope is that this experience leads to an even greater expansion of project-based learning in schools so that other students can be afforded a similar opportunity.”
East Greenwich High School is a public secondary school located in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. The school serves approximately 750 students in grades 9-12 in the East Greenwich Public Schools system, and consistently ranks in the top performing high schools in Rhode Island.
###
*Prize value is estimated retail value.
