27 NH Teams Advance to Global Creativity Academic Tournament

Creativity, collaboration and problem solving skills are at a premium in the evolving future of work. Saturday, 51 student teams competed at Bedford (NH) High School demonstrating those skills in solving STEAM-based Challenges: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math and Service Learning. 27 of those teams have qualified to advance and represent New Hampshire at Destination Imagination Global Finals.

This past fall, over 100 teams in grades K-12 started to solve their Challenges and in the process, build unique critical thinking and teamwork skills. Over the past two weeks, these teams competed at N.H. regional tournaments to advance to the State Finals tournament.

Award Photos are here.

All solutions, regardless of complexity, must be solved only by team members. Students second grade and younger learn the same skills in a non-competitive early learning program.

Special awards were presented including a DaVinci Award to Bow High School, Secondary Level for “unique approach to a solution, for risk taking, and/or for outstanding creativity.” [photo]

Personal achievement awards to high school seniors for use for post-secondary education were presented to Martin Cardine, MC2 School in Keene; Gabriella Forrence, Milford High School; Ella Weinmann, Jaffrey-Rindge; and Samantha Shone, Pinkerton Academy. [photo].

The non-profit New Hampshire Destination Imagination program is offered in schools throughout the state. Globally, over 150,000 students in over 30 countries and virtually every state and Canadian province participate in the program. In all, “D.I.” has 1.5 million alumni who were on teams when they were in school. This includes about 120,000 New Hampshire alumni, many of whom return to volunteer to the program that made such an impact on them.

Global Finals is a multi-day competition and celebration of creativity. Teams around the world solve the same challenges and, as happens in New Hampshire, compete at their age level and in their selected Challenge.

2023 NH Affiliate State Finals Results

The following teams have qualified to advance to Destination Imagination Global Finals in Kansas City, MO, May 20-23,2023.

They are listed by the Challenge and age group in which they competed:
EL= Elementary Level; ML = Middle School Level; SL=Secondary School Level

Piece by Piece - Technical Challenge

Bedford DI - Riddle Brook School, EL, Team Illusionists, 130-87226
Moharimet School, EL, Tiger Lilies, 130-35103
Pinkerton Academy, SL, Chaos Crew, 130-03967
MC2 school (Keene), SL, What, 130-05086

Far-Fetched – Scientific Challenge

Bow Elementary School, EL, Flaming Foxes, 130-97857
Grantham Village School, EL, The Mythbusting Alpacas, 130-63938
Windham, ML, DI Dragons, 130-28804
Milford DI, SL, Essential Lurkers, 130-18831
Milford DI, SL, Twisted Wizards, 130-92904

Flip The Script – Fine Arts Challenge

Inter-Lakes (Meredith), EL, Blobfish Heroes of Asparagus, 130-17993
Grantham Village School, EL, The New Hampsters, 130-64591
Bedford DI - Lurgio Middle School, ML, DI-ream House, 130-11290
Indian River School (Canaan), ML, TIME of your life, 130-28761
Hooksett, SL, Vengeance, 130-25782
Bow High School, SL, We're All Mad Here, 130-48933

Showdown – Improvisation Challenge

Milford DI, ML, Hey, Siri, 130-16085
Windham Center School, ML, Purple Blue Hippos, 130-23095
Jaffrey-Rindge School District, SL, Improvables, 130-70927
Bedford DI - Bedford High School, SL, MindBlowers, 130-17278

Thrill Ride Engineering Challenge

Auburn Village School, EL, The Auburn Animals, 130-52677
SAU8 (Concord), EL, MC (Master Crafters), 130-69073
St. Joseph Regional School (Keene), ML, Big Holy Bread, 130-08114
Warren Village School, ML, Sandy Cheeks, 130-02551
Manchester Memorial High School, SL, Memorial's Destin. to Imagin., 130-08167

High Stakes – Service Learning Challenge

Bedford DI - McKelvie Intermediate School, EL, Bedford Rockstars, 130-93580
Oyster River MIddle School, ML, The Rats, 130-36181
Thornton Central School, ML, Creative Kringles, 130-60310

Special Awards

DaVinci Award

Bow High School, SL, We’re All Mad Here, 130-48933

This award is given for having a unique approach to a solution, for risk taking, and/or for outstanding creativity.

About NH-DI and NHICC
The New Hampshire Innovation and Creativity Connection (NHICC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that promotes teamwork, creative problem solving, and innovation in New Hampshire. NHICC works with students ranging from preschool to college and sponsors programs such as New Hampshire Destination Imagination® (NH-DI) to help young people in New Hampshire become future leaders and innovators. NHICC administers the Destination Imagination program in New Hampshire. NHICC also operates one of the oldest creativity summer camps in the country, Camp Gottalikachallenge.

Destination Imagination (DI)’s mission is to inspire and equip youth to imagine and innovate through the creative process. A 501(c)(3) non-profit, the Destination Imagination Challenge Program extends to over 150,000 students in 30 countries and nearly every U.S. state each year.