Central Magnet selected as Tennessee winner in Samsung Solve for Tomorrow contest

Jan 14, 2019 at 09:17 am by Voice Wire

Central Magnet School

Central Magnet was selected as the Tennessee winner in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow contest. As one of 50 state winners – one representing each state – they will receive $20,000 in technology for their achievement.

They will also receive a Samsung video kit to create and submit a three-minute video showcasing their project development and how it addresses the issue in hopes of advancing to the next phase of the contest.

Their project is a proposed plan to address the problem of clean water for third world countries.

Central was selected from among thousands of national entries.

Their team is led by engineering instructor Marc Guthrie.

“We are using the okra project that one of our seniors, Ashley Pelham, created two years ago,” Guthrie said. “Ashley's brother Nathan and her sister Rylee are going to work with me on this project and the video.”

Students are working with okra seeds to develop a product that will clean water naturally and remove most of the dirt and silt from the water.

This method uses polymers found within the seeds and performs a coagulation process to trap the dirt and make the water drinkable.

After submitting their three-minute video, 10 national finalists will be selected to attend a “pitch event” in the spring, where they will present their project to a panel of judges. Seven of the schools will receive a $50,000 Samsung technology package, while the three other schools will progress to the national winner stage.

The three national grand prize winners will receive a $100,000 Samsung package. 

The general public will elect one Community Choice Award from the 10 national finalists, who will receive an additionally $10,000 technology package from Samsung. 

Sections: Other News