Working on a team, we all know, can be challenging. But collaboration is often what it takes to accomplish great things. Kids from the Monadnock region who participate in Destination Imagination are getting a headstart on practicing these skills, while putting their innovative know-how to work.
In competition with peer teams at regional, state and national levels, Destination Imagination teams tackle challenges in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as fine arts and service entrepreneurship. Participants are empowered to think creatively to solve problems together.
The competition culminates each year in May, in a four-day Global Finals event in Knoxville, Tennessee. This year, six teams will make the trip: three from the Jaffrey-Rindge School District, one from Mascenic School District, one from Mason and one from Wilton. They are among the 300 teams statewide that have been whittled down to just 41. These elementary and high school students are now fundraising to cover the cost of the trip.
And this is where we come in. The Ledger-Transcript is running a support your favorite DI Team campaign in which we will donate $10 to the DI team of your choice with the purchase of a one-year subscription. See Page 11 for more details.
These teams have a lot going for them. In the state finals, for example, the Mascenic’s Highbridge Hill Elementary School team ranked first in the “Pace of Change” technical challenge. The Jaffrey Grade School team ranked second in the “Get a Clue” fine arts challenge; and yet another Jaffrey-Rindge School District team ranked first in an elementary school test of social entrepreneurship, “The Meme Event.” A Jaffrey-Rindge high school team took second in “Get a Clue,” a fine arts challenge. And an independent team from Wilton also ranked second in the high-school level “Close Encounters” improvisation competition.
The kids will have an opportunity to not only compete for Global wins, but also check out the Global Finals Innovation Expo, where business leaders and inventors will share their latest innovations. Last year’s exhibitors included NASA, Microsoft, National Geographic, Scholastic and 3M.
It’s encouraging to see so many of our local teams make the cut to go to globals. It’s a testament to their hard work, determination and team spirit, as well as the support of our communities.