10 Anoka-Hennepin Destination Imagination teams advance to Global Finals
Earlier this month, a slew of Anoka-Hennepin schools had teams compete at the Destination Imagination (DI) state tournament, which was held at Jackson Middle School and Champlin-Brooklyn Park Academy for Math and Environmental Science in Champlin.
Participating teams utilized their innovative and creative solutions for one of seven complex challenges – either technical, scientific, fine arts-related or improvisational.
Turns out 10 Anoka-Hennepin teams did well enough at the state competition to advance to the Global Finals competition, which will take place over Memorial Day weekend, May 23-26, at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
At the state competition, Minnesota sends the top three placing teams at each level to the DI Global Finals competition, and those teams will join approximately 22,000 students from around the world.
DI officials also recognized senior team members who have participated in DI for four or more years, have demonstrated exceptional leadership skills, mentored younger teams, and have excelled in their challenge area. Typically, there are one or two awards given each year. This year, eight Anoka-Hennepin seniors, coming from Blaine High School and Coon Rapids High Schools, were awarded the DI Distinguished Leader Award:
- Josh Dischinger, Coon Rapids High School.
- Mackenzie Allen; Cat Getty, Mikayla Ryan; Mackenzie Meyers; Jordan Anderson; Allie Mooney; and Lindsey Anderson, Blaine High School.
Congratulations to all Anoka-Hennepin teams advancing to the Global Finals competition, which include:
Elementary:
- Johnsville Elementary School, one team won second place in the scientific challenge.
- Madison Elementary School, one team won third place in the technical challenge, one team won third place in the fine arts challenge.
- Rum River Elementary, one team won first place in the engineering challenge.
Middle school:
- Anoka Middle School for the Arts and Oak View middle school teams won second place in the engineering challenge.
- Northdale Middle School, one team won third place in the fine arts challenge.
- Roosevelt Middle School, one team won first place in the fine arts challenge.
High school:
- Andover High School, one team won second place in the scientific challenge.
- Blaine High School, one team won third place in the fine arts challenge, one team won second place in the engineering challenge.