Goodrich – They’ve made history.
The Destination Imagination team took first place in the state competition on Saturday, April 16 at Central Michigan University and has been asked to compete at a ‘Globals? final with students from all over the world. Both milestones are firsts for the Goodrich program.
Global finals will be from May 21 – 24 at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
The registration fee is steep. Team Coach Cindy Smith said they need the $4,000 fee by the May 20 deadline. ‘We are having lots of fundraisers to try and raise the money,? said Smith. ‘We need as many donations as possible.?
At the May 26 board of education meeting, the trustees explained they were unable to fund the fee. Superintendent Larry Allen and a few other board members said they would write personal checks for $25 each to help with registration costs.
If anyone can make a donation, Smith said they should call the high school at 810-591-2251 and ask to speak to Mike Ellis.
Smith said reaching this goal has been a four-year commitment for the team. ‘Most of the students on the team have known each other since kindergarten,? she said.
Destination Imagination teaches problem solving skills. Students are asked to take what they know and what they are good at and learn to apply it to solve challenges. The competition requires that the team work together to push the limits of their imagination.
Team member Scott Sinischo explained how the competition works.
He said the team has worked on the ‘Hit or Myth? challenge all year long, which is the category the team placed first in at the state competition.
‘Our team might get a challenge such as, ‘Is there really a Loch Ness Monster?? Or, ‘If Rapunzel really let her hair down, could someone actually climb up her hair into a tower?? So basically, we are given a challenge in which we have to either prove or disprove (a theory) using scientific methods,? said Sinischo.
He said the team has to put on a play to explain the myth and to integrate the results of what could happen. ‘We build props out of recycled materials – it gets very complicated,? he said.