GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) — Central High School Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) students won a $2,500 cash prize Dec. 3 in Samsung's annual Solve for Tomorrow competition.
The team is developing a technology to make their school safer.
Team member and student Lillie White says the idea came after noticing "people just hold the door open," instead of scanning their identification cards to get into the building.
They plan on "implementing some AI-assisted cameras to help detect firearms and other weapons that could threaten any other students here," said junior London Mohler.
The idea has made them one of six Colorado high schools to be named state finalists.
Engineering and Mechatronics specialist at Central Victoria Chavez-Herrera is leading the way, saying the students behind this project come from background that help contribute to this project.
"There's a very diverse collection of eyes that are on this project that are going to offer a lot of insight on how to make this not just a useful technology for our campus but for maybe campuses across the country."
Student Ronan Norman says the project is headed in the right direction but that there are still a few stages left in development.
"If we make it past this next stage, after we submit our proposal, then we would start building and that would probably be around spring."
If the project goes to the next stage, being named state winner, the school will receive a $12,000 prize package of Samsung products. Making them one of 50 schools selected to compete for the next prize of $25,000, with the chance of becoming one of 10 schools to be names a national finalist and receive a $50,000 prize.
Learn more about Samsung's Solve for Tomorrow competition by clicking here.