Columbus Middle School students Saturday swept Destination ImagiNation’s state competition at Columbus High School, with four teams winning first place prizes in four categories.
Destination ImagiNation, commonly called “DI,” is a curriculum-based program, which uses team-based challenges to teach creativity, problem-solving and teamwork to students in all 50 states and more than 30 countries.
At the beginning of each academic year, students form seven-member teams from five categories: Engineering, scientific research, architecture and structure, theater and drama, and improvisation.
Columbus Middle School’s four winning teams will now advance to the Global Finals May 23-26 in Knoxville, Tenn. They will compete against 16,000 students from around the world.
Sylvia Collins, a resource teacher for the SPIRIT gifted student program, coached three teams and sixth grade teacher Emily Wheeler coached one team.
Collins is no stranger to award-winning teams. All of her teams, since 2003, have taken first place in the technical and engineering challenge and scientific research challenge. She has coached four theater and drama teams and two structure teams to first place.
Overall, 19 of Collins’ teams have qualified for the Global Finals. Their goal, she said, is always to place in the top 25, and most of the time, they succeed.
Wheeler said she’s proud of the way the students progressed from the beginning of the challenge in November to the state finals.
For brothers Cooper Weseli, an eighth-grader, and Graham Weseli, a sixth-grader, this year’s competition was particularly special. Cooper Weseli attended the Global Finals last year and he had high hopes his little brother could attend this year and share the excitement.
But, he was glad they competed in different categories. Cooper Weseli participated in the technical and engineering division, and Graham Weseli competed in the architecture and structure challenge.
Jaylan Lenoir, a seventh-grader, competed in the scientific research category, which he said deepened his knowledge of solar power.
“DI is a great experience,” he said. “I think it’s a better way to learn. You get to learn while having fun.”
Teammate Ansley Dale, also a seventh-grader, agreed, saying she enjoyed seeing the creativity of other teams, watching the performers, attending the dance party and being with her friends.
The students practice so much together, they tend to become close, developing a spirit of camaraderie and teamwork. Students are encouraged to listen to one another, learning to offer constructive criticism and feedback.
Ladd Chain, an eighth-grader, helped build a vehicle and conveyor belt system designed to move items from one location to another in less than 10 minutes. He, too, said part of the fun was working on the project with his friends.
The sixth grade “Super Smart Squirrels” took first place in the architecture and structure challenge. Team members are: Braden Bonsall, Christina Clark, Aidan Dunkelburg, Karlito Hill, Jonas Oswalt and Graham Weseli.
The seventh grade “Walliaz” took first place in the scientific research challenge. Team members are: Ansley Dale, Leonardo Dismukes, Zoe Fowler, Jaylan Lenoir, Anthony McClelland, Wrishija Roy and Laurel Yarborough.
The other two winning teams are comprised of combination seventh and eighth grade classes.
The “Jebakas” took first place in the theater and drama challenge. Team members are: Brianna M. Brown, Shemaiah Caine, Amari Colvin, Kerrigan Hill, Ayana Morris, Jessica Verdell, and Evelyn Walker.
The “Bojangles SPIRIT” team took first place in the technology and engineering competition. Team members are: Ladd Chain, Jimbo Killebrew, Camden Sanders, Avery Velek, Cooper Weseli, Joshua Williams and Laurel Yarborough.
The “Columbus SPIRIT” team took second place in the architecture and structure challenge. Team members are: Michael Bailey, Amari Colvin, Cameron Douglas, Darrion Fisher, Chris Gray, Russell Taylor and Jessica Verdell.
Carmen K. Sisson is the former news editor at The Dispatch.
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