November 30, 2017
Rutherford County Schools
Central Magnet School has been named among the nation’s 255 state finalists in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow contest.
The program encourages students to solve real-world issues in their community using classroom skills in science, technology, engineering, arts and math.
Two seniors – Jaden Hicks and Manning Self – were chosen based on their proposal to use STEAM skills to address vehicle pollution.
Hicks and Self are working with engineering instructor Marc Guthrie in developing a system to capture emissions from vehicles using technology similar to what is used to capture carbon in manufacturing plants.
Psychology instructor Gene Cowart also has a team of students chosen as state finalists.
Both groups are currently working on an activity plan that outlines how they will execute the project.
If they are selected as the state winner in December, Central Magnet will receive a $25,000 Samsung technology package.
As two of five state finalists from Tennessee, Guthrie and Cowart will each be awarded Chromebooks to use in his classroom.
State winners will then submit a video of their project in action.
The 10 national finalists will be selected to attend a pitch event, where they will pitch their project to a panel of judges with seven schools receiving a $50,000 Samsung technology package, while the final three schools will progress to the national winner stage.
All three national grand prize winners will receive a $150,000 Samsung technology package.
All of the 10 national finalists will be eligible for the Community Choice Award and an additional $20,000 Samsung technology package based on social media voting.