“We are always amazed by the bold risks, creativity, perseverance and level of collaboration embodied by the talented student learners who participate in our increasingly competitive international DI Challenge Program,” said Chuck Cadle, CEO of DI.
CHERRY HILL, N.J. (PRWEB) May 04, 2017
More than 8,000 of the most creative students from more than 15 countries are advancing to the 17th annual Global Finals competition in Knoxville, Tennessee from May 24-27, 2017, hosted by Destination Imagination (DI). Over the next few weeks, student finalists are working hard to raise funds for a chance to showcase their top-scoring innovative solutions in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), as well as fine arts, service learning and improvisation, at the world’s largest celebration of creativity. This year’s Global Finals also marks the first time in DI history for teams from Hawaii and Australia to compete at the culminating event of the DI Challenge Program season.
An average of 150,000 kindergarten through university-level students participate in the DI Team Challenge program each year. Participants form teams to solve one of the seven Destination Imagination open-ended, project-based Team Challenges. The academic challenges encourage team members to work together, providing a hands-on learning opportunity demonstrating skills learned in the classroom in addition to patience, flexibility, persistence, ethics, respect for others and their ideas and the collaborative problem solving process.
“We are always amazed by the bold risks, creativity, perseverance and level of collaboration embodied by the talented student learners who participate in our increasingly competitive international DI Challenge Program,” said Chuck Cadle, CEO of Destination Imagination. “I’m beyond excited to celebrate this season’s finalists and their solutions at the upcoming Global Finals. These are the students that will become the next generation of problem finders, leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs.”
Since the beginning of the school year, new and returning DI teams have enthusiastically presented their novel solutions at regional and affiliate (state or country) competition events in hopes to qualify and compete at Global Finals. Team solutions were assessed by a panel of trained appraisers, ranging from educators to artists and engineers, and were scored on a variety of elements, including originality, workmanship, presentation and teamwork.
"After participating in the Destination Imagination Challenge Program for the last 12 years, I can confidently say that DI revived my interest in learning and is the reason why I'm pursuing a career in engineering,” said Zayna Pieper, 2016 DI valedictorian and mechanical engineering student at The University of Colorado at Boulder. “I'm excited to experience Global Finals for the first time in my new role as an appraiser. I can’t wait to see what unique, creative solutions this year's teams have been working so hard on over the school year.”
To continue providing students with an invaluable education in 21st century learning and career readiness, Global Finals will feature hands-on activities from its esteemed sponsors and exhibitors including Ford STEAM Experience, NASA, Space Camp©, Oracle Academy, Mayo Clinic, CASIS and PCG Education.
For more information about Global Finals and for the full agenda, visit http://globalfinals.org.
About Destination Imagination
Destination Imagination, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) volunteer-led non-profit organization whose purpose is to inspire and equip students to become the next generation of innovators and leaders. The organization is a leader in project-based learning experiences, where students work together in teams to solve open-ended STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) and service learning Challenges and then present their solutions at tournaments. Founded in 1982, Destination Imagination has impacted more than 1.5 million students.
To learn more, please visit http://destinationimagination.org.