Middle School Wins $100K Grant

More technology is coming to

The school won a technology grant from Samsung, as one of the winners of its Solve for Tomorrow contest.

The school because it produced a video that was chosen as one of the top 12 finalists by Samsung in its Solve for Tomorrow contest. Samsung chose the video as one of the top five, giving the school an additional $30,000 in grant money, along with a trip to Washington D.C. in April.

The students’ video outlined a smartphone app that would residents and visitors of the potential for invasive species infiltrating lakes and ponds in town.

And now the student will actually create the app.

“In terms of winning the grant, of course we are very excited to have any technology donated to the district. Technology provides our students with the tools necessary for 21st century learning,” said Dr. Nancy Harris, teacher of the GATEways gifted and talented program at the school that was responsible for creating the video.

“I am equally excited about the project of creating an app with my students for a number of reasons. It provides the students with experiential, real world problem solving that challenges them. It is a timely and important topic as invasive species in our waterways is a real environmental issue and anything we can do to protect or prevent the spread of these species in our natural environment is crucial,” Harris added.

With the largest lake in New Jersey in our back yard, Harris said, it makes it all the more important that we are all stewards of this cause.

The project combined Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) into the process to solve a real world problem with real world solutions.

“The students are not only learning about the problem they are also learning research skills, blogging skills and learning how to create an app that can help change our little world,” Harris said.
Harris noted that to be chosen by the judges is quite an honor.

“It means that we covered all of the components that were required including the use of STEM and creativity in dealing with a problem that they obviously felt is an important one,” she said.

Although the middle school didn't win through on-line voting Harris said she wanted to acknowledge everyone for their support and thank them for advertising to vote for us as well as actually voting.

“Many organizations such as, the Knee Deep Club, Lake Hopatcong Commission, local marinas, as well as our district administration, parents, teachers and friends who were spreading the word and we are very thankful for that,” Harris said.
A group of students in the eighth grade GATEways class have signed up to be part of the App Development team. They will be meeting after school over the next few weeks to research and develop the Invase Erase App. From there it will be decided who will attend the trip to Washington D.C.

The following is from the letter the school received from Samsung: 

Congratulations on being a grand prize winner of our Samsung Solve for Tomorrow contest! In addition to winning a package worth $100,000 of technology courtesy of Samsung, Microsoft, Adobe and DIRECTV, you have earned a trip to Washington D.C. where you will be honored at our awards celebration on April 18th. The submissions this year truly embraced the challenge put forth and our judges were faced with an extremely difficult decision. The innovation and creativity toward enhancing STEM education were outstanding and have been instrumental in making you one of only five grand prize winners in this year’s Solve for Tomorrow contest. Everyone at Samsung looks forward to seeing you in the Capitol City for this very important and prestigious event where your school will be recognized for its contribution to the program and video submission.

Harris would also like to acknowledge the Board of Education, the administration, Mr. Walker, Dr. FitzGerald (who will be meeting with the students to provide some scientific knowledge about the topic) and everyone who voted and provided support for the students’ cause.