Eden Prairie High School Achieves State Finalist Status
Eden Prairie High School is honored to be among five high schools across Minnesota to be named a state finalist in the 15th annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM competition. Each of these finalists will receive a $2,500 technology prize pack to enhance their school’s resources.
Empowering Students to Innovate
This national competition is dedicated to empowering students from grades 6-12 to leverage STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education to create innovative solutions for critical community issues. Out of thousands of applications submitted nationwide, 300 state finalists were selected.
Key Issues Addressed by Students
Notably, this year’s entries indicate a strong focus on pressing issues affecting students nationwide. Approximately 33% of submitted projects are aimed at tackling the climate crisis, addressing extreme weather events like hurricanes, floods, and wildfires. Other projects delve into sustainable building materials and alternative energy solutions, including wind turbines and solar power.
Mental health and wellness, particularly concerning the influence of social media and stress, along with school safety, are also major themes in this year’s submissions. Significantly, around 60% of the projects incorporate cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, 3D printing, and robotics.
Next Steps in the Competition
To advance in the competition, teachers will need to formulate a detailed activity plan that outlines the community issues at stake and proposes STEM-based solutions aimed at addressing these challenges. Plans must be submitted by early January 2025, paving the way for the selection of 50 state winners to be announced in March 2025.
Other State Finalists
Alongside Eden Prairie High School, other Minnesota schools achieving state finalist status this year include Byron Middle School, Edgerton Elementary School in Maplewood, Lynd Public School, and Mounds View High School in Arden Hills.
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