February 10, 2026 — As seniors across Cobb contemplate where they'll go to college or what their next steps will be after graduation, four students at Pope High School are showcasing their new lifesaving invention on the national stage.
Ishaan, Ammar, Ekansh, and Kenneth are all seniors at Pope, and spent months creating a product called Medi-Loc.
It is a product designed to help senior citizens or those with a neurodegenerative disease, such as Alzheimer's, take their medicine in a safe and effective way. Using their app that works on any computer or smartphone, someone would need to scan their fingerprint into the device, which ensures the correct person is there. The device then dispenses the pills for someone to easily take.
The product also reminds users when it is time to take their medicine, an issue Ammar has seen firsthand with his grandmother.
"My grandmother suffers from Type 2 Diabetes, and due to this, she takes medicine every day. Growing up with her — she has lived with me my whole life — I’ve seen her pull out a plastic pill tray from the dollar store, and I’ve always wondered what would happen if she took the wrong pill or double-dosed,” Ammar said.
With help from their math teacher, Julie Kokan, the students entered the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition, which accepts entries from sixth- through 12th-grade groups nationwide.
Initially, the group was recognized as one of the 500 schools remaining, but they've since found out that they're one of the last 100 groups in contention for this incredible recognition.
"There's a lot of students in Cobb County and for us to be the last ones representing us in this competition is really special," said Ishaan.
Pope is one of only four schools in Georgia remaining in the competition and the only Cobb County school left.
By making the top 100, this group of seniors has already earned more than $10,000 for Pope High School. If they advance to the top 10 and become national finalists, Pope will receive an additional $100,000 through this competition.
While these students are proud to present Cobb, they understand their creation could have a greater impact far beyond money.
"They've worked so hard to make a device that can be used out there in the world, and I think they're going to change the world," said Kokan.
To learn more about the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow contest, click here.
Announcements on national finalists and winners are expected in the coming months.
