Five UCS teams qualify for Global Finals of Destination Imagination

After achieving top honors for creativity, teamwork and innovation in regional and state academic tournaments, five Utica Community Schools teams have earned the right to compete in Destination Imagination's Global Finals, the world’s largest celebration of student creativity, to be held May 25-28 in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Students from Bemis Junior High School, Malow Junior High School and Stevenson High School will compete with other national teams in one of seven, open-ended challenges that require students to apply science, technology, engineering and math skills.

In addition to their talents in improvisation, theater arts, writing, project management, communication, innovation, teamwork, community service and social entrepreneurship.

“Destination Imagination is a rewarding and insightful eight month investment into the creativity and innovative process of students and it promotes unique ways of thinking and learning, as well as self-esteem," said Anita Landini, team manager of The Purple Popping Popcorn People from Bemis Jr. High.

The UCS teams competing in the national tournament are:

• Bemis Junior High School - Nicolas Landini, Emily Laurence, Leah Leduc and Matthew Tournament. The coaches are Anita Landini Tony Landini. The team’s Challenge is called “In Plain Sight”
• Malow Junior High School - Patrick Grabowski, Garret Waligora, Alex Grabowski, Henry Kieliszewski, Lauren Seymour, Julia Pelchat, Liberty Webster. The coach is Rebecca Grabowski. The teams are competing in the “Pace of Change” challenge.
• Malow Junior High School - Ava Waligora, Mallory Waligora, Davison Brooks, Noelle Yasso, Brynn Kiellszewski, Marissa Gleason. The team is competing in the “Get A Clue” challenge. (Team Web site -https://www.gofundme.com/royalsglobalfinals)
• Malow Junior High School - Frank Asta, Blake Bombe, Roger DeSaele, Daniela Gardner, Brady Mannan and Sophie Roth. Team coach is Lisa DeSaele. The team is competing in the “Get A Clue” competition.
• Stevenson High School - Stevenson: Everett Austerman, Tori Beers, Brianna Regan, Matthew Steakley and Alex Vergrugge . Also participating from Davis Junior High School is Ryan Verbrugge. The challenge is “Musical Mashup.” (Team Web site - http://di-ucs-s.weebly.com/)

Destination Imagination is a blend of the research and creative process.

For instance, the Bemis Jr. High took top honors for their research on Zebra camouflage and their representation of several camouflage techniques using science, technology and engineering methods. Then creatively, using theater arts, innovation and teamwork, presented their solution in an eight minute story containing modern memes and a unique plot twist.

"We work together to create something amazing and we’ve made the best friends ever," said Emily Laurence, of the Bemis Jr High team.

Destination Imagination has had a positive impact on more than 1.5 million students who 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 four students from Bemis Jr. High are proud to be among more than 8,000 students representing the more than 1,400 teams that will have the opportunity to proudly advance to Global Finals in May.

“The Destination Imagination program is a fun, hands-on system of learning that fosters students’ creativity, courage and curiosity,” said Chuck Cadle, CEO of Destination Imagination. “Quantitative reasoning, collaborative problem solving, risk taking, collaboration, presentations and thinking on your feet are some of the important skills learned in the program.”

Destination Imagination, Inc. dedicates itself to enriching the global community by providing opportunities for learners of all ages to explore and discover using the creative process from imagination to innovation.