Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy Selected as CT State Winner for Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Competition

Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy has been selected as the CT State Winner for the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition. With the selection, the team also increased its prize package to $12,000 worth of Samsung technology and was eligible to compete to become of the 10 National Finalists. 

Ultimately, the team did not qualify for Nationals.

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is a national competition designed to empower middle and high school students to leverage the power of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) to create innovative solutions addressing critical issues in their local communities. Students can catalyze change by applying Problem-Based Learning (PBL) principles, environmental stewardship, and entrepreneurship to address some of society's most pressing challenges.

Ponus students designed a new variation of street light. Students researched and designed a street light that will harness both solar energy and storm runoff water for power. This invention seeks to improve the environment by removing many street lights from the electrical grid. This will in turn allow for more energy to become available to the community.

In the next phase, the team brought its idea to life by creating a 3-minute video, which will be submitted in early March.

Team members include Dylon Cumin, Anusha Mundra, Isabella Oliver, Alfredo Martinez, Nela Naranjo, Dorian Gonzalez, Kaleb Dietl, Marlon Modeste, Jacob Smalick, Viti Patel, Jacob Smalick, Juan Araque, Jacob Barstow and Noor Fatima.

Gen Zers participating in this year’s competition have boldly entered their game-changing ideas to tackle the climate crisis, accessibility, mental health matters like student anxiety and loneliness, food insecurity, cybersecurity, aid for the unhoused and migrants, and more!

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow as designed to boost interest, proficiency and diversity in STEM. STEM skills are key to a thriving workforce and new approaches in education are vital. Between 2022 and 2023, the number of STEM jobs will grow 10.8%, a higher rate than non-STEM jobs (2.8%), yet national test scores among American schoolchildren in math (and reading) continue to show troubling declines.

One of the 50 state winners was recognized as visionaries for driving sustainable change through STEM innovation with a Sustainability Innovation Award and received an additional $50,000 prize package that included Samsung ENERGY STAR® technology. Another state winner was selected for the new Rising Entrepreneurship Award, receiving a $25,000 prize package to foster the development of a scalable, sustainable venture that extends beyond the competition.

Samsung named 10 national finalist schools to participate in a live pitch event where they presented their project to a panel of judges. Seven of those schools was awarded $50,000 in Samsung technology and classroom supplies. A Community Choice Winner was also determined through online voting by the general public, winning an additional $10,000 in prizes, and an Employee Choice Winner was selected by Samsung employees to receive an additional $10,000 in prizes.

Judges named 3 national winners, each of which earned a prize package worth $100,000.

Thank you to The SoNo Collection for featuring Dorian and his teammates' story, part of the Game Changer series in partnership with Norwalk Public Schools.