Connecticut High School Student Wins 'Making For Good' Challenge

Press release from Stanley Black & Decker:

April 30, 2021

High school senior Jiwoong “Matt” Park from Westminster School in Simsbury, CT, was named the first prize winner in the Stanley Black & Decker and Discovery Education 2021 Making for Good Challenge. He has been recognized with $15,000 for an outstanding innovative solution to societal and environmental issues. Matt's invention was a olfactory mood enhancer and safety monitor called "Hazel".

Matt graciously decided to donate the full prize amount back to Westminster's School community partnership program called Horizons at Westminster that provides a tuition-free academic and enrichment program for students in grades 1-8 from under-resourced communities in Hartford. Matt has been a volunteer in the program while a Westminster student, and the experience has meant a great deal to him.

To see the winner's reaction, click here for the full video.

Three students across the United States are recognized for innovative solutions to societal and environmental issues as winners of the Stanley Black & Decker and Discovery Education 2021 Making for Good Challenge. Working individually or in teams of 2-4, high school students nationwide created 60-90 second videos outlining innovative solutions to societal or environmental problems.

The annual challenge builds upon a Stanley Black & Decker and Discovery Education educational program – Innovation Generation – igniting, engaging, and empowering students to become innovators through no-cost dynamic digital resources. Through real-world explorations of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM), Innovation Generation cultivates students’ collaboration, problem solving, and creative thinking.

The winning 2021 Making for Good Challenge teams and prizing are as follows:

First Prize: $15,000 and a Stanley Black & Decker Prize Pack
• Jiwoong P., a 12th grader from Westminster School in Simsbury, CT

Second Place: $10,000 and a Stanley Black & Decker Prize Pack
• Nehal S., a 9th grader from Coppell Independent School District in Coppell, TX

Third Place: $5,000 and a Stanley Black & Decker Prize Pack
• Esha A., a 11th grader from Wake County Northwester School District in Raleigh, NC

See the full list and description of the winning projects here.

“At Stanley Black & Decker, our core mission is to be a force for good. Education is a cornerstone of that mission, which we make come alive through the Innovation Generation initiative in partnership with Discovery Education. Together, we aim to empower makers around the world,” said Stanley Black & Decker Corporate Responsibility Officer Deb Geyer. “The Making for Good 2021 winners demonstrate the power of innovation to create a more sustainable world for all by combining the power of imagination and STEAM.”

“Students are the future of innovation, guiding the world and solving some of the biggest challenges,” said Beth Meyer, Vice President of Corporate & Community Partnerships at Discovery Education. “In partnership with Stanley Black & Decker, we are empowering students with the STEAM content they need to transform ideas into life-changing solutions. The 2021 Challenge winners exemplify the power of STEAM learning.”

Powered by Stanley Black & Decker’s tools and Discovery Education’s unparalleled educational resources, Innovation Generation fuels student learning with a premiere, STEAM-focused, cross-disciplinary initiative that invites students and educators to explore their worlds through building, making, and doing. Innovation Generation resources help students build the important critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills needed for success beyond the classroom. The program’s digital tools can be accessed online at Innovation-Gen.com and through the Discovery Education’s flexible K-12 learning platform on the Corporate Education Partnerships channel.

For more information about Discovery Education’s digital resources and professional learning services, visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through Twitter and LinkedIn.

This press release was produced by Stanley Black & Decker. The views expressed here are the author's own.