Samsung, one of the North American Association for Environmental Education’s partners, hosts Solve for Tomorrow, a yearly $2 million competition for grades 6–12 to use STEM to solve community problems.

Along with the opportunity to win up to $100,000 in classroom resources, the competition gives students the chance to engage first-hand in the process of creating solutions in collaboration with elected officials, municipal organizations, and experts. The student team prototypes their innovation, and in some cases tests their prototype in the field. In other words, the competition gives the students the opportunity to experience what many environmental professionals do on a daily basis, including the challenges, frustrations, and triumphs that are part and parcel of our work. It’s an exemplary example of environmental education. Not all projects have an environmental focus. Yet, judges will consider environmental sustainability as a criterion. The NAAEE will help present the Sustainability Innovation Award to the submission demonstrating effective consideration for environmental impact. The prize is an extra $10,000.

I think you’ll find watching the three-minute project videos produced by the finalists as inspiring as I did. From now until April 23, you can vote for your favorite to be the Community Choice Winner once a day. Check out these young leaders in the making!