Samsung Solve for Tomorrow and Babson College Team Up to Ignite Young Entrepreneurs

This past July, four exceptional Samsung Solve for Tomorrow< students from across the U.S. were offered a unique opportunity to participate in Babson College's Summer Study program. The program provided these public high school juniors and seniors with a game-changing three-week experience, centered around entrepreneurial education and leadership growth.

The students - participants in the 14th annual Solve for Tomorrow competition, which encourages 6^th to 12^th graders to use science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills to address pressing local issues and drive positive change in their communities - were specially selected by their teachers for having a keen interest in social impact entrepreneurship. They included Eniah Endriga and Carmen Martinez from Harvest Preparatory Academy in Arizona - a National Finalist school, Siddhi Singh from STEM School Highlands Ranch in Colorado - a State Winner school, and Anthony Yao from Stuyvesant High School in New York - also a State Winner school.

"The partnership between Samsung Solve for Tomorrow and Babson College exemplifies our commitment to nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders and preparing them for the future of work. This program bridges the gap between applying STEM skills to solve community issues and leveraging entrepreneurship to amplify those solutions and make a lasting impact," said Ann Woo, Head of Corporate Citizenship, Samsung Electronics America. "As these students return to their respective schools and communities, they carry with them the knowledge, skills, and drive to continue making a difference."

Blending Experiential Learning with Leadership Development

Launched in 2011, Summer Study was designed to help pre-college youth learn how to be entrepreneurial thinkers and actors. Born out of the Babson Institute for Social Innovation, the program, which offers four college credits to rising high school juniors and seniors, focuses on creating critical life skills for youth, increasing their agency to become changemakers. Samsung participants engaged in virtual sessions with Babson faculty, entrepreneurship experts, and peers from around the world. The curriculum focused on team-based projects, fostering collaborative problem-solving and applying Babson College's Entrepreneurial Thought and Action® method.

"Babson's EPIC-Entrepreneurship Program for Innovators and Changemakers-curriculum, taught in the summer study program, is grounded in our belief that entrepreneurs can and should create both economic and social value. Approaching problems with an entrepreneurial mindset empowers students and offers numerous social-emotional and academic benefits. This mindset extends beyond the classroom and venture creation, enabling young people to gain confidence, navigate uncertainty, and create opportunities throughout their lives," said Dr. Beth Goldstein, Senior Director, Academic Strategy, Babson Academy Youth Impact Lab.

During the program, students explored entrepreneurship fundamentals and aligned their strengths and passions with U.N. Global Goals, identifying key community issues. The Babson College Summer Study emphasized experiential learning through human-centered design, field research, prototype development, and a "Rocket Pitch" to peers and mentors. It also covered interdisciplinary knowledge, including marketing, operations, finance, and leadership qualities, stressing emotional intelligence and social justice.

Tackling Food Waste & Reflecting on Personal Growth

Leveraging their learning, the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow students developed "SelfShelf," a software program to address U.S. restaurant food waste, which significantly contributes to landfill waste and emissions. U.S. restaurants generate 22-33 billion tons of food waste annually. SelfShelf simplifies restaurant inventory management through easy tracking, sending notifications for expiration dates, low stock, and wholesaler deals, aiming to reduce waste and improve food safety.