Vernon Hills High School Makes Finals In National STEM Competition

VERNON HILLS, IL — Vernon Hills High School has been named a finalist in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition, one of 300 schools nationwide and six in Illinois.

The prestigious competition, now in its 14th year, encourages middle and high school students to apply skills in STEM — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — to solve challenges in their local communities.

Entries in this year's competition have addressed a wide range of challenges, such as climate change, mental health, hunger, cybersecurity and support for migrant and homeless populations, according to organizers.

“A STEM education is a critical pathway to the evolving future of work," said Ann Woo, head of corporate citizenship at Samsung Electronics America. "We celebrate the dedication, ingenuity, and creativity of the 300 State Finalists who are not only showcasing their STEM prowess but, more importantly, addressing local community issues with meaningful solutions."

About a quarter of the solutions presented in student entries embrace the use of new technologies such as 3D printing, robotics and artificial intelligence. Organizers said many projects show promising signs of entrepreneurship, indicating the students potential for creating effective solutions in the future.

As a state finalist, VHHS has earned a $2,500 technology prize package from the competition's sponsor. It is now in the running to become one of three national winners, each of which will receive a $100,000 prize.

In the next phase of the competition, teachers have until Jan. 11 to come up with a focused activity plan outlining how their students will execute their STEM-based project.

Vernon Hills is joined by fellow Illinois state finalists Downers Grove South High School, Normal West High School, Oswego East High School, Disney II in Chicago, Mahomet-Seymour Junior High School. One of them will be named a state winner and be awarded $12,000 in technology and classroom supplies.

Plus, one of the 50 state winners will receive a $50,000 prize package focused on sustainability, one will receive a $25,000 prize to foster entrepreneurship, one will be selected through online voting and win another $10,000 in prizes, one will be selected by Samsung workers to receive $10,000.

Ten of the state winners will take part in a live pitch event to present the project to judges, and seven of them will receive $50,000 in technology and classroom supplies. Judges will also pick three national winners, and each of them will receive a prize package valued at $100,000.

Woo referenced a recent poll of members of the generation born around the turn of the millennium, often referred to as Gen Z or Zoomers.

It showed that 50 percent of them were interested in owning their own business and becoming an entrepreneur, 44 percent want to work in the media or creative arts and just 28 percent want to pursue a career in a STEM-related field.

"Their commitment to making a tangible impact speaks volumes about the transformative power of education and technology," Woo said in a statement announcing the finalists. "And the drive of these young innovators to be creators and makers, as displayed in these entries, resonates with the findings of our recent Samsung/Morning Consult survey on what Gen Z is seeking for their futures.”