Marion School is one of 255 finalists in Samsung’s nationwide Solve for Tomorrow contest.

The contest challenges students to apply their science, math, technology and engineering classroom learning in solving an issue in their community, using Samsung technology in 

Finalists were chosen from more than 2,300 applicants. This year’s proposed projects ranged from harnessing wind energy across the Alaskan tundra to reviving coral reefs off the Florida coast.

Marion was one of five schools chosen to move forward from Montana. As a finalist, Marion School will receive two Samsung Galaxy Tabs and the opportunity to advance. 

Information about the competition was forwarded to Marion School science teacher Shannon Jones, who then submitted an application in hopes the school’s outdated technology could be updated. 

“I was surprised,” Jones said about learning Marion was a finalist. “I hadn’t heard anything at all yet.”

Jones said some of the school’s working computers are more than 10 years old and technology is key in today’s digital world to opening up a new avenues of learning for the rural school district.

“Many kids are not exposed to it [technology] at home,” Jones said.

Finalists will be evaluated on lesson plans they submit during the next stage of the competition and 51 winners will be selected, one from each state and Washington, D.C., in December. Each state winner receives a technology package valued at $20,000. Other Montana finalists include Sunburst Junior High School, Dotson Public School, Sidney High School and Elysian School.

Jones said she plans to create a lesson plan where Marion students research a controversial topic, such as climate change, using the technology to video conference with other schools, for example.

“They’re very limited here with who they can talk to, but actually working online with other teachers across the continent our kids will be working with other students,” Jones said. “That’s what I’d like to do with this technology.”

The 51 state winners will then create a video the public may vote on from Feb. 14 through March 13 to determine 15 national finalists. National finalists receive technology packages worth $35,000. A panel of judges will choose five winners, who will receive a prize package worth $140,000 at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., in April.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.