South’s Samsung Solve for Tomorrow club is taking strides in innovation by submitting their invention; the “Storm Shield” to Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow contest. A headband that protects hearing aids.

The club consists of sophomores Emily Wang and Nikki Beshkar; as well as seniors Audrey Adams, Danielle Yang, Isha Harbaugh, Koel Harbaugh, and Sara Carmona. This is the third year that South has participated in this contest, with previous submissions including a highly reflective paint called TEMP Mural that helps reduce light pollution and NightShade, a shade made of recycled materials that is used to put over street lights.

According to Yang, “[the device] takes in the speed and distance of certain motions, and then it uses a formula to determine whether or not it’s dangerous.” If the motion is determined to be dangerous, the headband will beep, prompting the athlete to turn around. The inspiration for the device comes from the high cost of hearing aids and the struggle to keep them from falling out on the field.

Science teacher Kirstin Milks stated that hearing aids “are the third most expensive thing people buy after houses and cars. And … anybody who is active and wears hearing aids… [is] at risk.” The hope with the Storm Shield is to help keep these devices safe from being damaged on the field.

There are six tiers in the prize pool, starting with state finalists, and moving up with; state winners, a Rising Entrepreneurship Award, a Sustainability Innovation Award, national finalists, and the national winners. South’s “Storm Shield” has already won state finalist, state winner, and has become a national finalist. The club will present their invention in front of a panel of judges in Washington D.C. sometime in mid-April and have a chance at winning $100,000 in Samsung tech and classroom resources for South.

Some past winners of the contest include an automatic door opener for those with disabilities that affect dexterity and a health wristband for athletes.