KIPP Academy Lynn Collegiate students Serene Porte, Ismael Diaz Mateo, and Leia Payano, with their teacher, Allen Wang

Lynn MA – January 9, 2020 – Selected from thousands of entries nationwide, KIPP Academy Lynn Collegiate has been named a Massachusetts State Winner in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest. The team will use inexpensive and recyclable materials to design a practical device that students can use in the cold and dark winter months for additional safety. The winning team is made up of Ismael Diaz Mateo, Leia Payano (both 12th graders), and Serena Porte (11th grade) along with their Engineering teacher and Science Department Chair, Allen Wang. 

The Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest encourages teachers and students to solve real-world issues in their community using classroom skills in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). KIPP Academy Lynn Collegiate is among the nation’s 100 State Winners (at least one school from all 50 states) and will receive $15,000 in technology for its achievement. In addition, the school will also receive a Samsung video kit for students to create and submit a three-minute video that showcases their project development and how it addresses the issue. The video will be used for the chance to advance to the next phase of the contest and win additional prizes and educational opportunities. Twenty National Finalists will be selected and awarded a total of $50,000 in technology and classroom materials, and will present their projects to a panel of judges. Five grand prize National Winners will receive a total of $100,000 in classroom materials and technology and will travel to Washington, DC to present their projects to members of Congress.   

Allen Wang, Engineering Teacher and Science Department Chair, says “We are absolutely thrilled and honored to be selected as a State Winner! Our young innovators and designers have been thinking deeply about this challenge in our community and will be working very hard to create prototypes in the next couple of months.” Serena Porte says, “I am really excited and happy that we were named a State Winner because now we can finally have our plan come to fruition.” Caleb Dolan, KIPP Massachusetts Executive Director says, “This award is a demonstration of our commitment to STEM learning and the ingenuity of our students. We also appreciate the support of partners like Mass STEM Hub and Project Lead the Way that have helped us develop and improve our STEM and Engineering curriculum. I am so proud of these students and can’t wait to see how their project develops.”

“Samsung is extremely proud of the evolution of the Solve for Tomorrow platform over the past 10 years: fueling students’ passion and curiosity to tackle issues that affect their communities in unexpected and creative ways,” said Ann Woo, Senior Director of Corporate Citizenship at Samsung Electronics America. “Reading the innovative proposals students and teachers have put forth this year exemplifies what we know to be true for every student – that young minds have just as much to teach as they do to learn. Our guiding citizenship vision is ‘Enabling People,’ and we are thrilled to celebrate another year of empowering future innovators to achieve their full potential through STEM learning.” 

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About KIPP Massachusetts

KIPP Massachusetts is part of a non-profit network of college preparatory, public charter schools educating elementary, middle, and high school students. KIPP MA operates five public charter schools across Boston and Lynn, serving more than 2,000 students in grades K-12. KIPP MA has a 15-year track record of preparing students in educationally under-served communities for success in college and life.

About KIPP

KIPP is a non-profit network of college-preparatory public charter schools educating elementary, middle, and high school students. KIPP schools are part of the free public school system and enrollment is open to all students. There are 242 KIPP schools in 20 states and the District of Columbia educating over 100,000 students on their path to and through college, careers, and life. KIPP believes that great teachers and school leaders, a supportive learning environment, and an emphasis on both academics and character are the foundation for student success. KIPP students complete college at a rate that is above the national average for all students and four times higher than that of students from similar economic backgrounds.

Lynn, MA – December 19, 2019 – Two KIPP Academy Lynn Collegiate students have been chosen as Posse Scholars, which awards full scholarships to students with extraordinary leadership and academic potential, and places them at highly selective colleges and universities as part of a group of 10 students from the same city. This “posse” of students receives support and development from their senior year of high school through their time on campus. Posse is one of the most successful college scholarship and support systems in the country, with a 90% graduation rate and over 9,000 alumni.

Jorge Trejo Fernandez and Brian Leon have both been at KIPP since 5th grade. They both are peer counseling leaders and members of the Black Student Union. Brian is on the student council and Jorge plays for the basketball team. Both are excited for their next step and were relieved to have the college process end early with an outstanding result.

“I got the call from the Posse Boston office last week,” said Jorge. ‘They asked me how I thought my interview went and I said good, that I did my best. Then they said  how would you like to be part of the Centre College Posse Class of 2024? I said I would like that very much! Then I heard a bunch of cheering and clapping from the other people in the office, and I was just really excited.”

Both students first heard about Posse through Mr. Alvaro Peters, who was a teacher and is now an Assistant Principal at KIPP Academy Lynn Collegiate.  “He was always talking about being a Posse Scholar at Union and encouraged us to think about it but I never thought I would actually be chosen,” says Brian. “Over a thousand people are nominated so the chances seem slim, but with every passing round there are fewer people.”

Upon learning that Brian and Jorge had been chosen as Posse scholars, Mr. Peters said, “I’m far more excited, proud and energized that these young men received Posse than I was even for myself, when I was awarded it so many years ago! If you knew the extent to how truly awesome they are, you would understand why. Let this serve as a reminder of the power of human connection, for the college counseling team and I are simply paying our blessings forward and are certain these young men will carry the torch.”

When asked about why they chose Centre, Brian said, “I chose Centre because I want to eventually become a lawyer, and I wanted to major in history and minor in social justice, which I will be able to do there.” He adds, “For me, going to school in Kentucky is going to be a major change. I’ve never even been on an airplane before. I am excited to get myself ready for the whole experience.”

Jorge says, “Centre was my first choice because of the Centre Commitment. They said that you will graduate in four years, have an internship opportunity, and study abroad. I liked how they didn’t say these are options, but they commit that it will happen.” He adds, “I feel like I have been stressing myself out with the whole college process, so now that it’s over I can mentally prepare and relax.”

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About the Posse Foundation:

Since 1989, The Posse Foundation has identified, recruited and trained more than 9,200 public high school students with extraordinary academic and leadership. These students have received a total of $1.4 billion in full-tuition leadership scholarships from Posse’s partner colleges since the program’s inception. Most important, Posse Scholars persist and graduate at a rate of 90 percent and make a visible difference on campus and throughout their professional careers. Posse’s ultimate goal is to build a leadership network that better represents the country’s rich diversity.

About KIPP Massachusetts

KIPP Massachusetts is part of a non-profit network of college preparatory, public charter schools educating elementary, middle, and high school students. KIPP MA operates five public charter schools across Boston and Lynn, serving more than 2,000 students in grades K-12. KIPP MA has a 15-year track record of preparing students in educationally under-served communities for success in college and life.

About KIPP

KIPP is a non-profit network of college-preparatory public charter schools educating elementary, middle, and high school students. KIPP schools are part of the free public school system and enrollment is open to all students. There are 242 KIPP schools in 20 states and the District of Columbia educating over 100,000 students on their path to and through college, careers, and life. KIPP believes that great teachers and school leaders, a supportive learning environment, and an emphasis on both academics and character are the foundation for student success. KIPP students complete college at a rate that is above the national average for all students and four times higher than that of students from similar economic backgrounds.