Greenbrier East High School has been named one of 10 National Finalists in the 13 th annual
Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition, receiving a $50,000 prize package. Solve for
Tomorrow is a national competition that challenges U.S. public school students in grades 6-12
to explore the role science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) can play in solving some
of the most significant issues in their local communities. The competition engages students in
active, hands-on learning applicable to real-world problems – making STEM more tangible and
showcasing its value beyond the classroom.National Finalists participating in this year’s
competition have boldly entered their game-changing ideas to address reducing food waste and
insecurity, helping unhoused refugees, subway safety, accessibility, water quality, and more.
The Greenbrier East High School InvenTeam is inventing a Digital Junction Tracker (DJT) for
caves. The DJT is a digital beacon and receiver that will give spelunkers a more reliable way to
find their way out of the cave. It will also act as a tracking device for rescue teams to find
spelunkers who have lost their way, are injured, or become stuck in a cave and need to be
retrieved. Ultimately, the goal of the digital junction tracker is to save lives.
GEHS Pre-Engineering Instructor Kevin Warfield states, “Most lost spelunker incidents arise
due to insufficient preparation and cave knowledge. We believe we can create a technological
solution to prevent cavers from getting lost and help facilitate their safe return to the surface.
Our team has discovered that low-frequency radio signals work best when establishing a deep
underground connection. These frequencies are detectable above ground. Transmitters are also
used for cave rescues as they generate and transmit electromagnetic waves that carry
messages to the surface. However, the transponders do not transmit between 9 – 15 miles
above the ground. We hope to implement that technology at shorter distances underground to
develop our tracking system. The biggest benefactors of a technological solution to this problem
would be cave explorers/spelunkers and search and rescue teams.”
Mr. Warfield and the GEHS InvenTeam are excited to be among 10 National Finalists who will
head to a live Pitch Event on May 15 in Washington, D.C. Judges will select three National
Winners, each receiving $100,000 in prizes. One of the 50 State Winners will be honored as our
Sustainability Innovation Award Winner, receiving an added $50,000 prize package of eco-
conscious classroom technology. The public will vote online for one Community Choice
Winner from the pool of 10 National Finalists, and Samsung employees will name one team for
this year’s Employee Choice Winner. That honor earns the winning school an added $10,000
of Samsung technology on top of their national winnings.
Of the 10 National Finalists, one Community Choice Winner will be named through online
public voting, receiving an additional $10,000 in Samsung technology. To participate, view the
student-created videos on the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow website and cast your vote for
Greenbrier East. Voting is permitted once daily until 11:59 p.m. EDT on May 15, 2023, at
https://www.samsung.com/us/solvefortomorrow/.
Superintendent Jeff Bryant is thrilled with the news of the InvenTeam’s success, sharing, “Mr.
Warfield and this talented team of students demonstrate that the STEM education provided in
our school system is top-notch. It’s been an absolute joy to follow the success of these
remarkable students who are so capable and driven to find solutions to real-world challenges. I
encourage community members to visit the Solve for Tomorrow site to vote for and support our
team. They truly deserve and have earned this national recognition.”
The complete list of 10 National Finalists and more competition information is available at
https://www.samsung.com/us/solvefortomorrow/.
