Medfield Teams Have Strong Showing at DI Regionals

Medfield Teams Have Strong Showing at Destination Imagination Regional Tournament with Several Qualifying for Globals

On Saturday, March 4th, Medfield High School hosted the Destination Imagination (DI) Regionals, an innovative and fun-filled tournament. After months of preparation, more than fifty student teams from towns in our area presented their creative solutions to a number of mind-bending STEAM-based (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) challenges.

DI is an international, project-based educational program that encourages innovation, teamwork, and creative problem-solving. Students chose one of seven STEAM-based challenges and worked in teams to research, plan, create and present their solution to the challenge. Teams also completed Instant Challenges during which they use creativity and collaboration to solve a problem in a short period of time.

Seven Medfield DI teams competed at the March 4th Regional Tournament with three first place finishers that advanced to Globals in Kansas City. Coming in first place in the Elementary Technical Challenge was the third grade team “No Brainers” with Thomas Crocker, Sawyer Feig, Ayden McArdle, Erik McArdle, Declan McCullough, and Calvin Rowntree, managed by Mike Crocker and Kyle McGough. The boys made their challenge into a game in which they were sent on a mission to solve a puzzle. The lesson was that teamwork and friendship are the keys to overcoming challenges. Coming in first place in the Elementary Improvisational Challenge was the fifth grade team “The Flaming Marshmallows” with Jaclyn Callender, Serena Marciniszyn, and Amelia Wacek, managed by Irene Callender and Sonali Pandya. The girls performed an improvisational skit with role playing an underdog (a peace-loving pirate) who sought advice from Julia Child (expert) in preparing for a floral competition. The end result was a successful collaboration! Coming in first place in the Middle level Scientific Challenge was the sixth grade team “Medfield Madness” with Kameli Annigeri, Maddie Crocker, Tess Healey, Tess Henebry, Charlotte Keefe, Lia Kenworthy, and Tenley Rogers, managed by Randal Kenworthy and Karyn Healey. The girls performed a clever skit about the very serious issue of the role of social media in teen depression.

Coming in second in the Elementary Fine Arts Challenge and receiving the highest Instant Challenge score of the tournament was the third grade team “DI Surprise” with Mica Annigeri, Devan Crocker, Piper Kay, Cate McCullough, Claire Puglia, and Elizabeth Rogers, managed by Maria Puglia and Lindsay Rogers. Coming in second in the Elementary Engineering Challenge was the fourth grade team “DI Gamers” with Logan Bergiel, Dean Childers, Nolan Herman, Josh MacLean, Sean Peters, Deke Pingpank, and Colin Reitz, managed by Lauren Bergiel, Kaleen Childers, and Beth Peters.

Two other teams had strong solutions in the large field of Elementary Engineering- the fourth grade team “Medfield Thrillers” with Ryan Dorman, Nate Hern, Ryan Kenworthy, Rubin Liu, Wyler Smith, Teddy Smits, and Brooks Weber, managed by Randal Kenworthy and Jennifer Hern and the third grade team “Brain Warriors” with Ryan Cooper, Maeve Dondero, Cora Tower, Brooks Viglas, and Teddy Zaks, managed by Sylvia Cooper. Congratulations to these awesome Medfield teams!

About Destination Imagination

Destination Imagination, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) volunteer-led non-profit organization whose purpose is to inspire and equip students to become the next generation of innovators and leaders. The organization is a leader in project-based learning experiences, where students work together in teams to solve open-ended STEAM and service learning challenges and then present their solutions at tournaments. Destination Imagination has impacted more than one million students. To learn more, please visit http://destinationimagination.org, Medfield Destination Imagination’s Facebook page, or email UFLindsay@gmail.com.