Edison Destination Imagination teams qualify for Global Finals

Two Edison Junior/Senior High School Destination Imagination teams are headed to Global Finals in May after strong performances at the state competition.

The freshman team “Us” and the seventh-grade team “I Forgot Their Names” advanced from the recent state event in Cincinnati, where they competed among 100 teams from across Ohio. Destination Imagination is an educational program in which students solve open-ended challenges and present solutions that build skills in critical thinking, teamwork, STEAM and conflict resolution.

The teams will travel to Missouri May 21-24 to compete at the Kansas City Convention Center alongside more than 1,000 students from the United States and other countries, including China and Mexico. Participants will complete team and individual challenges in fine arts, technical, scientific, engineering, improvisational, early learning and service learning categories.

This will mark the fourth trip to globals for “Us,” which previously placed as high as 10th out of 50 teams. Team members Lindsey Howell, Daleanee Devore, Learynn Hanson, Beckett Dopp, Nate Myers, Connor Richardson and Olivia Ferguson said they are excited to return.

“I feel excited,” Beckett Dopp said.

The team, advised by Amanda Richardson and Eric Ferguson, will compete in the senior-level engineering challenge with its project, “Above and Beyond.”

“We had to create a structure to extend far and high and that could carry up to 10 weights, then we wrote a story about something that expands and goes above and beyond,” Howell said.

In addition to the competition, students will take part in activities and cultural exchanges with teams from other countries, along with opening ceremonies, block parties, creative showcases and pin trading. Hanson said the team also plans to spread positivity by decorating clothespins with encouraging messages to hand out in Kansas City.

“We were trying to find ways to include more fun into the trip and we’re decorating clothes pins with positive messages and pinning them to people in Kansas City,” Hanson said.

The seventh-grade team “I Forgot Their Names,” advised by Alicia Krepps, will compete in the middle-level scientific challenge with a project centered on a memory-stealing apparatus and a story set in an abandoned asylum.

Team members are Cadence Bendle, Casher Dopp, Briar Bendle, Kinsley Cline and Clairann Jolly.

“I’m excited,” Cline said.

Bendle and Casher Dopp have prior experience with global competition. Bendle previously competed with the John Gregg Elementary team “The Baconators,” which placed 13th out of 40 teams, and Dopp attended a contest with his older brother, Beckett Dopp.

“It’s a lot of fun and the experience is better,” Bendle said, adding that pin trading is a popular activity and participants have a chance to meet many new people.

The team has been raising money for travel expenses through donations from area businesses, food sales and penny wars. A spaghetti dinner benefit is planned for April 25 from 3-7 p.m. at Richmond Methodist Church. The event will include pasta, salad and dessert for dine-in or carryout, with donations accepted. Kathy’s Little Kitchen kettle corn and raffles also will be offered to raise additional funds.

District Destination Imagination Coordinator Kelly Dopp praised both teams for their work.

“Our high school team, ‘Us,’ is a group of freshmen who have been doing D.I. together for over five years,” she said. “They are a veteran group who understands the ins and outs of what the judges are looking for.”

She said the high school team impressed judges this year with a motor-operated rainbow that changed from black and white to color during its performance.

Of the junior high team, Dopp said members developed a memorable and creative storyline and delivered performances that had judges laughing during the state competition.

“I’m looking forward to them getting to experience the many events and different cultures at Globals,” she said.