Utica Community Schools students from five Destination Imagination teams qualify for World Finals

After achieving top honors for creativity, teamwork and innovation in regional and state academic tournaments, five teams featuring Utica Community Schools students have earned the right to compete in Destination Imagination's Global Finals in May.

Students from Ebeling and Beacon Tree Elementary Schools, Davis, Heritage and Jeannette Junior High Schools, Stevenson High School and the Utica Academy for International Studies have qualified to compete with other international teams in one of seven, open-ended challenges that require students to apply science, technology, engineering and math skills during May 24-27 in Knoxville, Tennessee.

“We are proud to have such a large number of students continue our history of success in Destination Imagination,” Superintendent Dr. Christine Johns said. “This program helps build skills that our business leaders say is critical to their workforce – problem solving, innovation and the ability to work in teams.”

The teams qualified for the global finals after earning top honors at that state DI tournament at Central Michigan University earlier this month.

The UCS teams qualifying for the international tournament are:

• Two Beacon Tree Elementary teams have qualified for the world finals in the Fine Arts category after earning a second place state finish for a story about how the disappearance of a color changes the world. The team members are Eileen Santana, Ellie Dunn, Gwen Olson, Marco Santana and Brianna Milovanovski. Team managers are Linda Dunn and Teri Olsen. Another Beacon Tree team also placed second in the Technical Challenge category after they built and designed a theatre stage that moves team members from one location to another. The team members are Dhilan Pawa, Zachary Tobey, Evan O’Brien and Calvin Warner and their manager is Bhrat Pawa.
• Fourth graders Jayden Hutar and Sammy Darwich of Ebeling Elementary competed in an Engineering Challenge that requires teams to design, build and test load-bearing structures out of specific materials. They also have to compete in an instant challenge that requires teams to engage in quick, creative, and critical thinking. The team placed third in their division at the championship. Their coach was Lubo Hutar. Rachel D'Angelo and Devon Giampa were the coordinators.
• An engineering team from Stevenson High School, Davis and Jeannette Junior High Schools and the Utica Academy for International Studies took third place overall at the state finals, with second place finishes in the categories of Structure and Instant Challenge score. The team competed in the secondary engineering level. The team is comprised of Alex Verbrugge, of the Utica Academy for International Studies, Everett Austerman, Hope Goss, and Destiny Jackson of Stevenson High School, Ryan Verbrugge of Davis Junior High School and Paige Goss of Jeannette Junior High School. The coaches are Kevin and Kristine Verbrugge.
• A team featuring Heritage Junior High School and Stevenson High School students have qualified for the World Finals after placing second in the Project Outreach category. Team memers include UCS students of Christiana Strong of Stevenson, Kylese Strong, of Heritage Junior High School and is coached by Doris Strong. The team designed a community needs project titled “Depression Awareness affecting Teens/Pre-Teens.”

Destination Imagination is a blend of research and creativity. More than 1.5 million students have taken part in its acclaimed Challenge program.

This year alone, 150,000 students have participated in tournaments throughout the U.S. and 30 countries in hopes of earning a spot at the Global Finals competition.

The UCS students will be among the 8,000 students representing the more than 1,400 teams that will have the opportunity to advance to Global Finals in May.

Source - Utica Community Schools

http://www.uticak12.org

Dr. Christine Johns, Superintendent of Schools