Waugh Chapel Destination Imagination Team Heading to Nationals

After winning honors for creativity, teamwork and problem solving in local, stateand regional tournaments, the WCES DI team, the Coral Helpers, has earned the right to travel to Destination Imagination's Global Finals, the largest creative thinking and problem solving competition in the world, to be held May 22-25 in Knoxville, TN.

Team members include:

Catherine Campbell, age 10, 5th grade

Faith McKisson, age 10, 5th grade

Layla Tyus, age 8, 3rd grade

Emily Fix, age 8, 2nd grade

Rachael Vander Roest, age 8, 2nd grade

JP Zimmerman, age 8, 2nd grade

They will compete with other teams in the Project Outreach Challenge, Real to Reel, one of seven, open-ended challenges that require young people to apply science, technology, engineering and math(STEM), in addition to improvisation, theater arts, writing, project management, communication,innovation, teamwork and community service.

"I’m so impressed with this team. Most of the team is very young, but they did a wonderful job planning and executing a donation drive for supplies for the local animal shelter. And then they made a very creative movie documenting their service project. They learned so much this year aboutteamwork and independent, creative thinking, and they all are such amazing performers," said Team Manager Rachel Campbell.

"I am so pleased to be a part of such a neat team. I learned a lot about the Anne Arundel County Animal Shelter. As well as how to work with other people better. And I can’t wait to go to Globals!"said Rachael Vander Roest, one of the team members.

Destination Imagination has had a positive impact on more than 1.5 million young people and adults who have benefitted from taking part in its acclaimed Challenge Program. This year, another 100,000 young people have competed in tournaments throughout the U.S. and in 30 countries to earn a spot atthe Global Finals competition in May.

The Coral Helper team is among more than 8,000 students representing more than 1,250 teams thatwill advance to Global Finals, which will be held at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville May 22-26.

“The Destination Imagination Program allows students K-College to learn and experience the creativeprocess. Quantitative reasoning, problem solving, risk taking, collaboration, presentations and thinkingon your feet are some of the important skills learned in the program,” said Chuck Cadle, CEO.

This year, National Geographic’s world renowned author and photographer, Joel Sartore, will beaddressing the participants at the Global Finals Opening Ceremony. This year’s Global FinalsInnovation Expo will house engaging exhibits from NASA, Michigan Tech’s Mindtrekkers, 3M andmany other innovative companies. In addition, participants will have a chance to explore the depths ofour planet’s oceans and learn about environmental conservation through the 3M-sponsored, interactive“Explore the Uncharted” exhibit.

Destination Imagination is an educational program where student teams are immersed in the creative process needed to solve open-ended challenges, and then present their solutions at regional and statetournaments. If they win at those levels, they may receive an invitation to Global Finals.

“The DI competition requires students to work through some very demanding critical thinking andproblem solving assignments that strengthen our educational systems by enhancing the learningprocesses taking place in the classroom,” declared Cadle. “We’ve seen the development of superioraptitudes in analytical thinking, leadership, project management, teamwork, communication, researchand innovation in hundreds of thousands of youth since our organization’s inception almost threedecades ago, and we believe Destination Imagination has the potential to bridge the gap betweenwhat is taught in our schools and the thinking skills our youth will need to succeed in the world of thefuture.”

Destination Imagination, Inc. dedicates itself to enriching the global community by providingopportunities for learners of all ages to explore and discover using the creative process fromimagination to innovation.

For more information on The Coral Helpers and their Global Finals adventure, please go to:https://www.youcaring.com/coralhelpers