A concurrent RESOLUTION

 

to recognize and honor the Alice Drive Middle School STEM students and STEM lead teacher, Dr. Marina Mosneaguta, for their significant scholastic achievements and to congratulate them for capturing the state championship in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM competition.

 

Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly is delighted to hear that Sumter School District's Alice Drive Middle School STEM team members learned they had won the state championship in the thirteenth annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM competition under the direction of Alice Drive's lead STEM teacher, Dr. Marina Mosneaguta, on Wednesday, February 15, 2023; and

 

Whereas, annual Samsung competitions challenge public school students in grades six through twelve to explore the role science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) play in vital community issues; and

 

Whereas, project goals require that participating students engage in active, hands-on learning that can be applied to real-world issues, making STEM more tangible and illustrating its value beyond the classroom. This year, issues of environmental sustainability frequently found relevance in local community issues that the nation's STEM scholars wanted to address; and

 

Whereas, because Alice Drive Middle School won the state competition, the school will receive twelve thousand dollars in prize money for school supplies and will represent the entire state of South Carolina in a national STEM competition in May 2023, from which ten national finalists will be chosen; and

 

Whereas, for the competition in May, the Alice Drive STEM students and their STEM lead teacher, Marina Mosneaguta, better known as "Dr. M" at the school, are focusing on a solution that will help sustain biodiversity and natural habitats in the City of Sumter. Samsung employees will serve as mentors assigned to the state winners on a one-to-one basis to help guide them as they develop their project prototype; and

 

Whereas, every year, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow entries provide a unique snapshot of concerns and issues on the minds of America's students who identify what they see as community issues they want to help solve. Overall, two million dollars in prizes will be awarded during this year's competition; and

 

Whereas, Alice Drive Middle, along with the winners in other states, must submit a three-minute video demonstrating how they are using STEM to address the issue raised in their lesson plans. Based on those video submissions, the field of fifty will be whittled down to ten national finalists who will present their project to a team of judges during an in-person event; and

 

Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly appreciates the pride and recognition that the Alice Drive STEM team members have brought to their school and to their community, and the members look forward to following their continued achievements in the days ahead. Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

 

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, recognize and honor the Alice Drive Middle School STEM students and their STEM lead teacher, Dr. Marina Mosneaguta, for their significant scholastic achievements and congratulate them for capturing the state championship in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM competition.

 

Be it further resolved that the copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Marina Mosneaguta.

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