Reviewed by: Pat Byington
South Hampton K-8 needs your help to win Samsung innovation competition: How to vote
Reading time: 3 minutes
Students at South Hampton K-8 have once again proven their technological prowess, earning them the title of Samsung Solve For Tomorrow National Finalist.
Their project aims to give people under a tornado warning ample time to prepare themselves and their families. The idea was inspired by the 2011 tornado outbreak that ripped through Alabama and caused catastrophic damage.
“Y’all may know Tornado Alley, but here in Alabama, we’re in the center of Dixie Alley. Alabama approximately receives 64 tornados a year. This is an ongoing problem, and it only takes one to devastate a whole community.”
Jason Walton, South Hampton 8th grade student
In 2011, the students found, many people only had 10-15 minutes to find shelter.
South Hampton’s project, which they have dubbed “Storm Sentinels,” aims to give residents of Pratt City and Forestdale double the time to prepare by sending early warning text messages to local families.
Check out the details of the project in their Samsung finalist video:
What this means for South Hampton
Their National Finalist designation has earned them an invitation to pitch their project at an in-person event, where seven of the 10 finalist schools will receive $50,000 in prizes for their schools. Three National Winners will take home $100,000 in prizes.
Other Birmingham area schools have earned recognitions from the Samsung Solve For Tomorrow competition, including 2023-2024 National Winner Hoover High School, which developed a low cost automatic door opener for people with dexterity issues.
The other Alabama schools that received honors among 27,250+ school entries this year are:
- Semi-finalists
- P.D. Jackson-Olin — Birmingham
- Hoover High School — Hoover
- Promising STEM Innovation Recipients
- Alabama School of Fine Arts — Birmingham
- Parker High School — Birmingham
- Daphne High School — Daphne
- Gulf Shores City Schools — Gulf Shores
- Hoover High School — Hoover
- Philips Preparatory Middle School — Mobile
- Robertsdale High School — Robertsdale
- Selma High School — Selma
How to vote
Here’s where we come in, Birmingham. On top of the other awards, there are opportunities to win an additional $10,000 through the Samsung Employee Choice Award and Community Choice Award.
Voting is now open for the Community Choice Award on Samsung’s competition website. Here’s what you need to do to cast your vote:
- Click “South Hampton School, AL: Storm Sentinels” under the school’s project video.
- You should see a confirmation after successfully voting.
- You are allowed to vote once per day until April 8, so return every day to do your part!
Afterward, stay tuned to Birmingham City School’s Facebook page to see if South Hampton wins. Bham Now is rooting for the Bulldogs!
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