AUGUSTA – On Tuesday, Senator Donna Bailey, D-Saco, welcomed Saco Middle School Samsung Solve for Tomorrow contest winners to the Senate Chamber.

Seventh-graders Aislyn Cassidy, Aaron Garland, Juniper L’Italien, Tucker Vincent, Spencer Pahigian, Natalie Chaplin, Abigail Cashin, Amara Doe, Charlotte Ramsay and Eleanor Studtman are members of the team. Saco Middle School teacher Lindsay Girard is the coach.

“These bright students, under the guidance of their teacher, created a truly amazing product,” said Bailey. “Biodegradable, sustainable and refillable markers offer a solution to a big problem: the hundreds of millions of markers that end up in a landfill every single year. I am deeply impressed with them, and I wish them the very best as they advance to the national competition in the coming weeks.”

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is a national competition that challenges students in grades 6 through 12 to use their STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) skills to address real-world issues in their communities and affect positive social change.

The Saco Middle School team prevailed over their high school competitors and secured a $12,000 Samsung prize package, a video kit to assist in the national competition, and a designated Samsung Employee Mentor. The team will now advance to the national competition as the sole middle school among the six State finalists.

To monitor the team’s progress and vote in April, follow the Facebook pages @SacoMiddleSchool and @SacoSchools and the Instagram page @SacoSchools.

A legislative sentiment acknowledges and recognizes academic, athletic, civic, professional or service-related accomplishments.