(06/02/2023) Anoka-Hennepin sent five teams to the Destination Imagination Global Finals in Kansas City, Mo. May 20-23 competing against teams from all over the world, including China, India, Canada, Pakistan, Qatar, Turkey, Australia, Brazil, Guatemala, as well as teams from all over the United States.

Teams at each level represented the very best in the world, sharing their best solution to this year’s challenges in Engineering, Science, Fine Arts, Improvisation, and Community Service. 

Northdale Middle School team Struck by Creativity members Garrett Bower, Weston Finco, Gratia Foxx, Aiden LaPage and Gabby Fournier placed third in the world in the Community Service Challenge High Stakes. Struck by Creativity also recorded the highest score of all middle school level teams in the Instant Challenge. 

Teams from Madison and Rum River elementary schools competed in the engineering challenge. Rum River Team Ever-Flaming Crystals, made up of Blayke Chastanet, Amia Chittenden, Adelynn Hruby, Nora Hendrickson, Josephine Peterson, Lila Peterson and Lincoln Peterson, placed 19th in the Thrill Ride Engineering Challenge.

Madison Elementary students Elise Burroughs, Jens Hiti, Payton Huntington, Alivia Moores, Riley Munion, Audrey Nutter and Nicole Thompson on team Roller Coaster Disasters, placed 28th in the Thrill Ride Engineering Challenge out of 32 teams.

Rum River had two teams competing in the Improvisation Challenge Showdown. Students Brynn Bartsais, Hailey Dempsey, Maddy Olson, Dylan Olson, Mason Olson, Isiah Whitney on Team Magic Fireball Tornadoes placed 13th and Millie Cimenski, Megan Christensen, Brittan Koosman, Isla Nelson on team The Crunchy Crystal BIMM Rats placed 31st.

Over 150,000 students participate in Destination Imagination, and only the top one percent of teams qualify for the Global Finals. Teams that finished first or second in state competition advanced to the Global Finals.