WAOW - Newsline 9, Wausau News, Weather, SportsMercer School a national finalist in education contest

 

Mercer School was named a Top 12 Finalist in Samsung's second annual Solve for Tomorrow education contest and awarded over $70,000 technology for the classroom. Over 1,500 applicants across the country rose to Samsung's challenge to "show how STEM can help the environment in your community." As a part of the top 25, Mercer was given over $1,000 in technology to create a video showcasing their project.

 

Online voting is now open to the public to determine the Top 5 video finalists. In this vote, Mercer has the opportunity to receive a total of $100,000 in tech for the classroom, a trip to DC and a chance to meet nine-time Grammy winner and philanthropist John Legend at a celebration event.

 

Vote for your favorite video online at www.samsung.com/solvefortomorrow until March 12, 2012.

 

A $1 million education contest, Solve for Tomorrow encourages teachers to engage students in STEM by raising enthusiasm for these subjects and addressing the technology gap in classrooms. Part of Samsung's Hope for Children initiative, students and teachers from more than 1,400 schools across all 50 states participated in the second annual contest by responding to the challenge: "Show how STEM can help the environment in your community."

 

In August 2011, Samsung called on teachers across the United States to submit a short application for a chance to participate in the video competition. The 25 finalists, selected from over 1,500 submissions, received video creation kits which contained $1,000 of technology—including a Samsung laptop, camcorder and software from Adobe. Of the 25 schools, 12 finalists were selected and awarded $70,000 in technology. Four of the top five finalists will be selected by a panel of judges and one will be chosen by an online public vote.

 

Additional finalists include:

-          Davenport School of the Arts                 Davenport, FL

-          Desert Wind Middle School                     Maricopa, AZ

-          Groton High School                                     Groton, NY

-          Indian Trails Middle School                       Palm Coast, FL

-          Jackson Hole High School                          Jackson, WY

-          Jefferson Township Middle School       Oak Ridge, NJ

-          Lawrence County High School                 Moulton, AL

-          Mercer School                                               Mercer, WI

-          Neah Bay Junior/Senior High School     Neah Bay, WA

-          Pleasant Hills Middle School                     Pleasant Hills, PA

-          Schoharie High School                                Schoharie, NY

-          Sutter Middle School                                  Folsom, CA