Several teams from the Wauwatosa School District showcased their talents at the Destination Imagination (DI) Global Finals in Kansas City, Missouri from May 22-25. Longfellow Middle School’s “Never 'not' Ready” team achieved outstanding success, securing 1st place in the Middle-Level Improvisational challenge.
Competing against dozens of teams across the globe, the “Never ‘not’ Ready” team also received a special Renaissance Award. The award recognized the team's ‘fantastic thinking’ in their Instant Challenge. Among the 36 Wisconsin teams participating in the DI Global Finals, “Never ‘not’ Ready” was the only team to achieve a first-place finish and receive a special award.
“Uncrustables,” another team from Longfellow, also delivered an impressive performance, tying for 6th place in the Improvisational challenge. Additionally, three WSD teams competed in the Scientific challenge: Longfellow’s “The Slay Squirrels Play the Octopus in Chess” and “ElMeTayBelle” placed 30th and 37th, respectively, at the middle level, and Wilson/WSTEM Elementary’s “Taco Cat Goat Cheese People” secured 36th place at the elementary level.
When not competing, DI teams had the opportunity to engage with peers from the United States, Canada, Mexico, China, Korea, Ukraine, Turkey, Qatar, Indonesia, and Australia. Participants also enjoyed various activities, including learning about storytelling from Pixar veterans, experimenting with hands-on ‘mad science’ projects, and displaying their creativity at a duct tape fashion show.
“We are incredibly proud of all the teams who represented Wauwatosa School District at the DI Global Finals,” said Dr. Demond Means, Wauwatosa School District Superintendent. “Longfellow's standout victory and the impressive performances from our other teams demonstrate the incredible talent and dedication across our district. Witnessing our students shine on a global platform truly reflects the creativity and problem-solving skills nurtured through this amazing program.”
Global Finals is the culminating event for Destination Imagination’s Challenge Experience, uniting top teams from around the globe to compete in their respective Team Challenges. As the world’s largest non-profit, volunteer-driven organization, Destination Imagination empowers student teams to develop practical life skills by solving complex, open-ended challenges. Its mission is to inspire and equip youth to imagine and innovate through the creative process.
To learn more about Wauwatosa School District’s Destination Imagination programs, please visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WauwatosaDI.