Lakeside High state winner in tech contest

Lakeside High School in the Plummer-Worley School District has been named the Idaho winner in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow contest.

The school will receive $20,000 in technology equipment and the chance to continue on to win larger prizes.

The program encourages teachers and students to solve real-world issues in their communities using classroom skills in science, technology, engineering and math. Teachers were challenged to submit a lesson plan that shows how STEM can be applied in their local communities.

Lakeside High teacher Stefani Hoffman’s winning project for students addresses the need for healthier supermarket food options as the community is fighting obesity, diabetes and other food-related illnesses.

Hoffman and her students will use STEM skills to create Home Garden Kits for families. Students will learn what it takes to keep plants healthy, how to save seeds, germinate seeds, transplant, provide a healthy growing environment, harvest produce, preserve their produce and the nutritional benefits of these foods.

As the state winner, Hoffman’s class will receive a Samsung camcorder and laptop for the next phase of the contest.

For the next several weeks, the winning teachers and students from each state and Washington, D.C., will work to bring their projects to life and create videos of their classrooms in action.

From the pool of 51 state winners, 15 national finalists will be selected. The national finalists will each receive technology equipment valued at $40,000. The national finalists will then pitch their ideas live in New York to a panel of judges and America will be able to vote on their favorite ideas.

From there, five national winners will be named and honored at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C, where they will also get the opportunity to meet their congressmen and senators. The five top winners will each receive technology equipment with a value of $120,000.