Penn named state finalist for Samsung Grant

Penn High School’s Robotics Team 135 and it’s Mission to Engineer project has been named a state finalist—just one of five Indiana middle and high schools—for the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Grant and a chance to ultimately win $100,000!

Samsung designed the nationwide contest to boost interest and proficiency in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). The contest challenges public school teachers and students in Grades 6-12 to show how STEM can be applied to help improve their local community. 

The Solve for Tomorrow Grant has several stages and Team 135 is currently in the second stage, which is the activity plan (see the timeline breakdown below). 

 

First Round (Nov. 21 – Dec. 10, 2018)

• Samsung announces 250 state finalists selected to submit an Activity Plan that lays out how they will improve their community using STEM. Each school receives a Samsung Tablet.

Other Indiana state finalists include Goshen High School, Center for Inquiry – IPS 2, South Adams Middle School, and South Decatur Jr/Sr High School.

Second Round (Jan. 3 – Feb. 15, 2019)

• Samsung publicly announces 50 state winners.
• Each school receives a $20,000 prize package and video kit!
   

Penn student David Simonetti and Engineering Teacher Tara Pieters have completed the first part of the grant. Now students David Simonetti, Michelle Kwok, and McKenna Hillsdon-Smith are finalizing the activity plan for a chance for Penn Robotics to earn a $20,000 grant! If Team 135 moves on to the next stage, it will receive a video kit to produce a video showcasing Mission to Engineer for a $50,000 prize! The National Champion will be announced in April 2019 with three winners to receive $100,000 prize package!

 

Third Round (March 2019)

• Samsung announces 10 national finalists.
• Each school receives a $50,000 prize package and a trip to the Final Event.
• Online voting for the Community Choice winner begins.

 

National Winners Announced April 2019

• 10 national finalists present their prototype  to a panel of judges.
• Samsung announces 3 national winners to receive a $100,000 prize package!

Penn’s Mission to Engineer is an assistive technology initiative started by Penn Robotics that aims to provide children with custom devices for disabilities. Not only does Penn Robotics provide custom solutions, but it also makes them free of charge.

Penn’s Robotics program is currently working with two disabled students continuing their work on the “Engineering Ella” project and starting a new project, “Innovations for Isaiah,” to assist a student at P-H-M’s Moran Elementary School. Past projects also include the “Voice for Braylen” and “Hand of Grace” projects.

Ella has Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Type 1, a disease resulting in a lack of motor neurons in her muscles, leaving her paralyzed and unable to speak. Team 135 has reprogrammed her wheelchair, created hand stabilizers, a notifier for when her feed tube overflows, and many other things that will help improve her life.

Another child who Penn Robotics just started working with is 4^th grader Isaiah, who has Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita, resulting in less flexible joints. For Isaiah, students are working on a modified scooter for gym class, a comfortable bike that he can ride, and devices that will assist  Isaiah in day-to-day life.

Learn more about Penn Robotics’ Mission to Engineer initiative at missiontoengineer.team135.org.