W.J. Keenan High School named state winner in $2 million Samsung contest

W.J. Keenan High School is the South Carolina state winner in the 2015-2016 Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest, a $2 million nationwide competition to increase interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) by challenging students to help address community needs. In addition to representing South Carolina in the national competition, Keenan has earned a minimum of $20,000 in Samsung technology for the school.

Keenan’s teachers and students will use their STEM skills to address diabetes and sedentary lifestyles, particularly in a school setting. Their idea is to develop a mechanical energy mobile device charger, essentially having students peddle a stationary bike to charge mobile devices such as cell phones. The goal is to give students an opportunity to stay active and promote healthy lifestyles, while simultaneously charging their mobile devices by using alternative energy.

Kirstin Bullington, a science and engineering teacher at Keenan, explains how the collaborative project will work: “The physics and engineering class will work on the prototype, which they will build with recycling robotics motors. My biotechnical engineering and biology class will calculate calories and rates of energy to make the connection between food and exercise, and my computer science classes will compile that data into an app to predict how long a user will need to cycle to charge their device and burn off their lunch.”

Keenan is one of 51 schools in the nation to be named a state winner. State winners must create a two- to three-minute video that brings their innovative idea to life. If their video is selected, they will have the opportunity to earn a larger technology package and a chance to present their innovative idea with other competing schools in New York City in March.