Creative kids from second grade through high school converged on St. Charles Community College on Sat., Mar. 5 to compete in Destination Imagnation (DI). All five Sullivan teams are eligible to advance to the state tournament at Missouri Southern University in Joplin on Apr. 9.

BRAINIAC BUNCH

Linda Cuneio’s seventh grade “Brainiac Bunch” placed first in middle level “Triple Take Road Show.”  This challenge requires a story using different storytelling methods to tell the same story to three team-chosen pretend audiences, portraying travel methods to move the road show between audiences and integrating a technical spectacle into one presentation.
Lucas Kirk, Dustin Pewitt, Quinn Hulsey, Jordan Sego, Sarah Rhoads and Brooke Connor came away with a coveted Renaissance Award. The appraisers wrote, “This team’s entire skit was full of ingeniously engineered devices. They implemented pulley systems successfully to operate their backdrop and futuristic transporter and created a battery-powered black light to creatively portray an eerie and creepy feeling. Outstanding!”
Mike and Mary Brinker’s “Imagineers” (Mariah Radle, Tyler Andreasson, Megan Andreasson, Caden Weigl and Hannah Dautenhahn) placed first in high school level “Triple Take Road Show.” They received a DaVinci Award, representing exceptional creativity, a unique approach to the problem and/or risk taking.
The appraisers’ nomination read, “This team went outside the box, using few props, but each was exceptionally creative. Their cookie tornado, DIpod, campfire and costumes were very original and superbly designed and crafted. We were wowed! “

FLAMING EAGLES

Ellen Crider’s fourth grade “Flaming Eagles” tied for second in elementary level “Verses, Foiled Again!” Teams design and build a structure made only of aluminum foil, wood and glue to hold as much weight as possible.  Other required elements are to present a story about a character that is foiled and to integrate team-written verse and published verse into the story.
Mason Kirk, Jacob Andreasson, T. J. Robertson, Cody Terry, Madison Decker, Hannah Buffer and Teagan Day are excited to be going to state again.
Trish Gatlin’s KOs, which includes Carter Adams, Austin Frye, Travis Gatlin, Drake Hill, Isaac Peregoy, Kylee Thomure and Alyssa Young, tied with the Flaming Eagles in the structure challenge.
Gatlin commented, “I couldn’t be more proud of these kids. The KOs are newcomers, but their inexperience was outweighed tenfold by their creativity and enthusiasm. Not only did they receive second place at their first regional DI tournament, but they were also honored with a Renaissance Award for their backdrop. They are all very excited to be heading to the state tournament in Joplin next month.”

COKE OR PEPSI

Michelle Rhoads’ fourth grade team, “Coke or Pepsi,” placed second in elementary level “Mythology Mission.”  Teams create a five-minute improvisational skit about a mission involving a mythical creature. This must be done in a five-minute preparation time prior to presentation at the tournament. Other requirements are incorporating research about a culture from a country, three souvenirs randomly selected from a list of items and combining them to create one master prop and incorporating an unexpected problem that is discovered on stage.
Team members are Cole Johnston, Owen Karl, Madison Brown, Kamryn Lohden and Rachel Rhoads.
In addition to the above challenges worked on for months, teams solve a five-to-seven minute “Instant Challenge” sometime during the day of the tournament. This might be a building task using unusual materials, a story problem to be acted out, or some combination of the two. Team members must use good team work and be great at “thinking on their feet.”
Local teachers and parents who worked as appraisers or volunteers at the tournament were Kelly Solomon, Erin Beckmann, Cindi Allen, Tina Sohn, Toni Oldham, Rachel Andreasson, Alyssa Frye, Scott Radle, Christina Sego, Dianne Karl and Michelle Brown.

KOs

IMAGINEERS