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Saline's Destination ImagiNation Teams Rule at Regional

A pasta dinner and show this Sunday will help support the teams' trip to the state finals.

Nine Saline Destination ImagiNation teams ranging from the elementary to the high school level competed on Feb. 25, at the Regional Tournament at Parma Western High School. These 42 students represented nine teams that have worked hard since fall 2011 to complete a set of Central Challenges and Instant Challenges. Destination ImagiNation Inc., or “DI”, is a creative problem solving organization for students from elementary school through college. Teams of up to seven members compete in various challenges that require complex thinking, problem solving, teamwork and creativity.  The organization holds regional, affiliate, and international competitions to encourage creativity in the world's youth.

Eight DI teams placed first, second or third in their division, and will proceed to the Affiliate Finals competition April 21, at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant. This is equivalent to an all-state competition. Teams who then place first or second at the Affiliate Finals will be eligible to proceed to the Global Finals event in May 2012. Global Finals is the culminating event of every Destination ImagiNation season. Each year, more than 1,000 teams from 30 countries gather at Global Finals to showcase their top-ranking Challenge solutions.

At the elementary division, “The Five Einstein Aces” team of Jason Coleman, Annie Liemohn, Owen Pichla, Noah Socha, and Ashlyn Stager placed first. This new team of third and fourth-graders chose “Technical Challenge A: Assembly Required” and proceeded to design and build equipment to move their Parts to and from the Parts Depot, Assembly Area, and Delivery Area, in order to make their Product “A”, a robot, and Product “B”, a remote control for their robot.  Their team also presented a team-created story about how at team of scientists build robots to help Einstein in their 8-minute presentation. They will proceed to Affiliate Finals in April. Their team managers are Rob Coleman and Ginger Liemohn. 

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A fourth/fifth-grade team called “The Six Super Silly Soaps,” competed in “Structural Challenge E: Hold It!” placing first in their elementary division.  Team members include: Clay Baker, Gabrielle Ragatz, Leah Abdallah, Aaron Kuhen, Alex Ragatz and Josh Willwerth (a DI member since second grade). They had to design, build, and test a structure made entirely out of wood and glue to hold weight and contain golf balls. They also had to design and build a delivery device that would deposit golf balls, one at a time, into their structure. A team-created original skit about a “captivator” had to be integrated into their presentation. The team’s story consisted of scientists who discovered living dinosaurs underground. Their team manager is Catherine Fillmore.

Another Saline team, the “Team No Name”, made up of seventh and eighth graders also competed in Challenge E (the structural challenge), and placed first in the Middle Level division. This team has been together for several years and this was their fifth time progressing to the Affiliate Finals. Team members are: Matthew Lougheed, Srinath Ravindram, Matthew Skinecki, and Conner Southwell. They have come up with an outstanding solution that they are hoping will take them to Globals this year. Fun, music, friends and teamwork make this team a force to be watched. Their team manager is Joan Crane.

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The Saline High School team called “The Final Chapter” also placed first in their division, and will proceed to Affiliate Finals.  Ian and Tate Burns and David and Joseph Strobbe competed in “Scientific Challenge B: The Solar Stage" in which they created and presented a theatrical performance that told a story about the use of solar energy. They were allowed to turn off the lights during the performance so they used various lighting techniques to enhance their story of an ancient civilization called the Raumaraci. This team of brothers has been competing in DI for 10 years and they are making the most of their last year together in DI. Their team manager is Joy Burns.

“Chris and the Daisy Chasers”, a Saline High School team comprised of Anne and Kyle Boxeth, Chris Combs, Sam Pawlowski, and Evan Raeker, placed first at the Regionals Tournament in “Improvisational Challenge D: News to Me.” This group of high school students has been together for five years, and this was their fifth year to progress to Affiliate Finals. This team learned about different types of news stories and cause and effect relationships. The used cooperative human scenery and props to enhance their five-minute improvisational skit between two unrelated news stories. They had to incorporate a one-minute “glitch” as well. Their team manager is April Boxeth. 

 A middle level team called “Fire Breathing Rubber Duckies” placed second in their division of “Improvisational Challenge D: News to Me.”  Team members include: Caleb Kartha Bortles, Tristan Klinski, Liam Turner, Marissa Willwerth.  Caleb is participating in his fifth season of DI and is going to his third Affiliate Final, and Tristan, Marissa and Liam are in their first season. Their team managers are Beth Bortles, Jason Fox, and Wendy Klinski.

The team "Robot Skeleton Keepers" of Nishan Bhattacharyya, Ava Hajratwala, Sanjay Ravindran, and Ryan Schwartz placed third in “Technical Challenge A: Assembly Required” at the Elementary division. This first-year team of third and fourth graders chose to solve the challenge by building shields and picture frames with a background story of a company making products to support soldiers during World War II. They transport their parts and finished products on a tank built of plywood and cardboard.  They will represent Saline DI at Affiliate Finals. Their team manager is Nayan Hajratwala.

"Rainbow Sparklers” High School team, otherwise known as Matt Finegan, Daniel Hochrein, Ben Ellsworth, and Audrey and Ryan Neet, placed third in the High School division. They competed in “Scientific Challenge B: The Solar Stage” where they had to utilize theatrical lighting to tell a story in which solar energy was used. They will compete in April at the Affiliate Finals at CMU.  Their team manager is Mike Finegan.

“The Duct Apez” team competed in “Fine Arts Challenge C: Coming Attractions,” and placed fourth in the Middle Level division. This team of sixth-graders was comprised of Matthew Coleman, Tyler Kudlak, Derek Liemohn, Luke Sloan, and Ethan Smith. Using their imagination, they created fictionalized movie trailer involving characters from England and France. The Duct Apez team designed and built a backdrop, two boats, costumes, and “cinematic special effect” that were featured in the movie trailer. They created an original soundtrack that complimented their movie trailer. Their team managers are Ginger Liemohn and Jenny Sloan.

Interested in learning more about the DI?  Look for “DI Fridays” offered this summer through Saline Community Education for students in grades kindergarten through eighth grade. For more information about Saline Destination ImagiNation, go to www.salinedi.org. Teams form in the September-October timeframe, and compete in competitions in the winter and spring.  Also, search for Saline D1 on Facebook.

This Sunday, March 25 from 12:30-3 p.m., Saline Destination Imagination will be hosting a Pasta Dinner and Show at the Saline First United Methodist Church located at 1200 N. Ann Arbor St. in Saline.  The afternoon’s entertainment will feature a barbershop quartet and cabaret singers. Also included in the fun will be a bake sale and a silent auction to raise money for students to participate in the international competition in Knoxville, TN, in May 2012. Ticket prices are $12 at the door, or just $10 through advance purchases online at SalineDI.org.  A family discount price of $40 in advance, or $45 at the door is also available.

 

 


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