Samsung Solve for Tomorrow
Empire was thrilled to to work once again with Samsung on their annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest. The nationwide competition motivates students to use S.T.E.M. (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) to approach solutions to real-world issues impacting their communities. Participating students from the Top 10 schools flew to New York City from all over the country to pitch their ideas to a panel of carefully selected judges.
After months of hard work, problem-solving, and preparation, the finalists kicked off the trip pitching at Samsung 837. After welcoming remarks, the students began presenting their ideas and prototypes in front of the panel of esteemed judges. Their youthful genius was revealed through a variety of innovative solutions developed using S.T.E.M. disciplines, all of which displayed qualities of empathy, safety, forethought, and kindness.
The next day was filled with buzzing energy as the students experienced New York City from a personalized bus tour and had lunch and a milkshake at Mom’s kitchen before heading over to the Intrepid Sea Air & Space Museum, where the students, along with SFT alumni, teachers, and partners presented onstage, and at tables in Hangar 3 as part of the first Solve For Tomorrow STEMFair.
The day was full of interviews with the finalists, presentations by former contestants, and interactive displays of each prototype. A break in the program allowed students and teachers to explore the museum on private tours. When the group returned to the Hangar, the space had transitioned into a reception and awards ceremony, where, after dinner, the three winning schools were announced. Each of the ten national finalist schools were awarded $50,000 in Samsung technology, and the top three winners each won a total of $100,000 in Samsung technology.
In addition to the student programs, this year marked the premiere of the first-ever Teacher’s Academy programming. These programs demonstrate the ways teachers can ignite a passion for S.T.E.M. in their classrooms through fun, educational, hands-on projects like the Hot Air Balloon experiment demonstrated by previous teacher contestants. A panel discussion took place to further explore ways to engage youth in S.T.E.M. education. Programs for the teachers were held at Samsung 837 and on the beautiful campus of Columbia University.
Empire was humbled to again collaborate with Samsung Solve for Tomorrow to produce the final events at Samsung 837, Columbia University, and the Intrepid Sea Air & Space Museum.
To see more of the students’ work, click the link below:
https://www.samsung.com/us/solvefortomorrow/
Guests received their first taste of technological innovation at registration, where they were welcomed by name on a reactive LED screen installation covering the full width of the entry wall. A large lunch café was created with a décor scheme that incorporated custom-built, ceiling-high steel LED frames draped with foliage to create smaller, intimate restaurant-style spaces that displayed both technology and nature.
A series of breakout sessions presented content targeted to attendees’ varied interests, while imagery displayed throughout the venue showcased real-life applications of how products designed to empower developers help to unleash the power of data and reimagine possibilities that will improve our world.
Every element of Microsoft Connect(); from registration, breakfast and keynote, to lunch and evening cocktails, were custom-designed to communicate exacting brand messaging and to deliver a high-touch guest experience to this important audience. The keynote and breakout sessions were livestreamed through an onsite studio built for this purpose and content was watched online by millions around the world.
Empire is proud to collaborate with Microsoft on this annual, top-tier business communication event.
To view excerpts of Connect(); 2017, please visit https://www.microsoft.com/connectevent
