CHESAPEAKE, Va. — A STEM group at Deep Creek Middle School in Chesapeake is headed to a national competition for their technology used to get their classmates glasses.
The students realized not all of their classmates could see clearly or could afford glasses, so they decided to use technology to fix the problem.
The group created a website where students can apply for a pair of glasses and donors can help the cause. Student Olivia Lyons said her teammates had to work together to make the project a reality.
“Now they’re able to see the board better and focus more on the work, instead of asking to go back because they couldn’t see it before,” said Lyons.
First, a student in need of glasses gets a free eye exam with the donations provided. Then, the student plugs in their prescription on the website page to see what glasses are available.
The team collected gently used glasses and made QR codes for each; therefore, details about every pair are in the system, making it easy for students to pick which ones they want.
Student Tia Davis helped make the codes for the glasses sync with the computer website, and she said it’s simple.
“You hit send, and we find the glasses for you because the QR codes hold all information about the glasses,” said Davis.
The group has provided free glasses for each student at Deep Creek Middle School, and now they want to expand the program to other schools.
The team won a statewide competition, and they are now headed to the national Samsung Competition to represent Chesapeake.
Right now, there’s only enough money for three of the seven team members to go.
Physical science teacher and STEM leader Paula Labbe said that they all deserve to go.
“They should reap the benefit of that project together, they’re all a vital component of the project and we couldn’t have done it without each of our competitors,” said Labbe.
But win or lose, Labbe said that Deep Creek Middle came out on top.
“We’ve helped students in this building get the glasses they need, and that’s our win,” said Labbe.
Samsung's competition is holding a vote to see which group of students will become the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Community Choice winner. Deep Creek Middle School’s STEM group is asking the public to vote for them so they can win $50,000 in technology and classroom supplies for their school.
Click here to vote for the Deep Creek Middle School's team!