Honoring the students and teachers of Academy at Palumbo High School in South Philadelphia for their achievements in winning one of five prizes in Samsung's nationwide Solve for Tomorrow contest which includes $140,000 in new technology for their school.

WHEREAS, Academy at Palumbo is a School District magnet high school located in South Philadelphia whose mission includes

raising the aspirations of each student, developing universally applicable problem solving techniques, acquiring technological skills, and instilling a life-long passion for learning that includes a rich cultural arts experience

; and

WHEREAS, Earlier this school year, teachers Klint Kanopka and Susan Lee put together a team of 15 students to compete in Samsung's nationwide Solve for Tomorrow contest. Samsung created the contest to raise awareness and interest in schools across the country in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) subjects; and

WHEREAS, The Palumbo team used local crime data to create an algorithm to map out the safest route from one location to another, and specifically the safest routes to their school. The team gave values to streets surrounding their school on a level of 1-5, with streets with recent crime reports rated higher, or more dangerous. The students also completed a survey of all students to determine where the students come from, and how much of their commute is spent walking. The data and subsequent algorithm can be used by students and all Philadelphians to find the safest routes for them to take throughout South Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, On Tuesday, March 25, 2014, with much elation and excitement, the students learned that their project was chosen as one of five winners out of more than 2,300 school participants throughout the country; and

WHEREAS, Led by school principal Dr. Adrienne Wallace Chew and teachers Lee and Kanopka, the Palumbo team included students from all high school grades, 9-12. The team members are: Aigner Andrews, Jason Barr, Ava Biegalski, Emmanuel Cruz, Yagouda Diallo, Steven Geiger, Tuong Lam, Lydia Le, Kimberly Ly, Tarzan MacMood, Tiffany Ng, Deanna Polsz, Van Sam, Amy Tran, Quyen Truong, Alex Wallace, Diyaaldeen Whitaker, Emmanuel Williams and Ming Wu; and

WHEREAS, Accomplishments like this further illustrate just how exceptional our young people can be when given the necessary tools and direction. We need to continue to highlight our many successes, and we must make sure we give every student in our schools exactly what they need to succeed; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That Council does hereby honor and commend the students and teachers of Academy at Palumbo High School in South Philadelphia for their achievements in winning one of five prizes in Samsung's nationwide Solve for Tomorrow contest which includes $140,000 in new technology for their school.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Principal Dr. Adrienne Wallace Chew, Ms. Susan Lee, Mr. Klint Kanopka and the Academy at Palumbo “Solve for Tomorrow” team as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

End