Four Destination Imagination teams from Steiner Ranch recently competed in the Destination Imagination Global Finals, nicknamed “The World’s Largest Celebration of Creativity”.

Held in Kansas City from May 22-25, Global Finals featured 17,000+ spectators from 45 U.S. states and over 30 countries. There were “Olympic-style” opening ceremonies with teams marching into the arena waving their flags and and closing ceremonies with awards presented. 

“At the beginning of the (school) year, we read through their rules, the scorecard, and the requirements, and we wonder how kids this young will be able to solve challenges this complex… and every year, they amaze us with their creations,” said Jake Leffler, who has been managing DI teams for five years. 

DI is a creative problem-solving program where kids from kindergarten through university create solutions to challenges they receive at the beginning of the school year. Everything must be decided and created by the students without help from parents. 

Each year, there are over 150,000 participants who start the year choosing to solve one of six different challenges: technical, scientific, fine arts, improvisational, engineering, or service learning. At Global Finals, less than 80 teams remain in each of the challenges.

“These kids learn how to use the creative process, work together on small teams, brainstorm and compromise, provide constructive feedback to each other, and fight through the inevitable frustration and excitement as they create their solution,” Leffler said.  

Leander ISD formed 85 DI teams at the beginning of last school year, 24 of which were from Four Points area schools. There were six LISD teams that qualified for Global Finals including three from Steiner Ranch Elementary and another from Canyon Ridge Middle School. 

For a sneak preview of the challenges for the 2019-2020 season, go to www.destinationimagination.org  

D.I.C.E.

SRE 3rd grade 

1st Heart of Texas Region – Engineering (Monster Effects)

3rd State – Engineering 

6th Global Finals (of 74 teams) – Engineering

Team members: Manny Paz, Jackson Welch, Jaya Udezue, Soumia Shah, Isaac Scott

Team managers: Carmen Paz and Steve Welch

Screen Smashers 

SRE 4th grade  

Scientific – Medical Mystery

1st Place Worldwide – Creative Process Video Contest

1st  Heart of Texas Region – Instant 

15th  Global Finals (of 75 teams) – Scientific  

Team members: Dante Leffler, Oliver Vaughan, Bryce Eaton, Siri Krishna, Kate Wilson, Mary Kate Liechty, Sunaina Dewagan

Team managers: Jake Leffler and Janae Leffler

Seven Sassy Savage Smiley Faces 

SRE 5th grade 

2nd  Heart of Texas Region – Engineering (Monster Effects)

1st  State – Instant  

2nd  State – Engineering 

5th  Global Finals (of 74 teams) – Engineering 

Team members: Derek Reynolds, Avery Altiere, Gunnar Magness, Chase Ritchie, Rachel Hill, Shreya Poladia, Madison Brooks

Team managers: Cindy Reynolds and Dan Altiere

TickTockTigers 

CRMS 

1st  Heart of Texas Region – Service Learning (Escape Artists)

4th  State – Service Learning 

17th Global Finals (of 68 teams) – Service Learning 

Team members: Aarushi Boppidi, Brooke Boykin, Anya Chawla, Adrian Rapier, Adi Suresh, Gigi Suresh, Ryann Wager 

Team managers: Aradhana Suresh and Angie Boykin

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