Selected from thousands of entries nationwide, George Junior High in Springdale has been named the Arkansas state winner in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest for its proposed plan to address childhood vaccination and immunization rates using 360 video and VR. The Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest encourages teachers and students to solve real-world issues in their community using classroom skills in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). This year classrooms identified issues that are unique to their communities – such as contaminated water, emergency relief in the face of natural disasters, and access to proper food and resources – as well as critical societal issues that are impacting classrooms nationwide, such as the topics of mental health, school shootings, vaping, bullying, homelessness, and veteran care. 

George Junior High is among the nation’s 50 state winners (representing all 50 states) and will receive $20,000* in technology for its achievement. The school will also receive a Samsung video kit to create and submit a three-minute video showcasing their project development and how it addresses the issue in hopes of advancing to the next phase of the contest and win additional prizes and educational opportunities. “The scale and importance of the issues addressed in this year’s contest reflect how students are taking responsibility for their role as change agents for the future,” said Ann Woo, senior director of corporate citizenship, Samsung Electronics America. “These state winners and trailblazing teachers and students are taking action to create tangible solutions and promote positive change. Samsung is proud to support their vision for a brighter future and looks forward to seeing how they will use imagination and creativity with complex technologies such as VR and 3D printing to bring these projects to life.”

Arkansas ranks as one of the lowest states in childhood and influenza vaccination rates. Using GIS mapping, students have discovered Washington County has one of the lowest rates in the state. Mr. Beard and his 8th and 9th grade EAST students are creating 360 videos to be viewed through Virtual Reality headsets that children will wear while they are receiving their vaccinations. As the nurse is administering the shot, a super hero will be giving the child super powers in the VR experience. 

All 50 state winners will work on their projects and submit their three-minute video in hopes of advancing in the contest’s remaining phases: 

? National finalists: 10 national finalists will be selected to attend a Pitch Event in the spring where they will present their project to a panel of judges. For achieving national finalist status, 7 schools will receive a $50,000* Samsung technology package. The other three will progress to the national winner stage 

? National grand prize winners: 3 national winners will be selected, and each will receive a $100,000* Samsung technology package 

? Community Choice Award: The general public will select one winner from the 10 national finalists who will be eligible to win an additional $10,000 Samsung technology package

For questions about the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest, please reach out to SamsungSFT@allisonpr.com.