Four teams from Greenville ISD are headed to the state Destination ImagiNation competition next month.

The Greenville Sixth Grade Center Hybrid team, Greenville Middle School Eighth Grade Improv squad and Greenville High School Hybrid and Structure teams earned the right to attend the April DI state meet by placing in the East Regional tournament, held this past weekend in Mesquite.

In addition, one local team received one of seven special awards presented at the meet, and a GHS senior received the DI Alumni Scholarship.

Eight teams from Greenville ISD were among the 150-plus teams that competed in the regional meet.  Also competing and earning second place finishes were the Greenville Elementary team (Bowie and Lamar Elementary), Sixth Grade Center Structure team and GHS Performance and Improv squads.

The State Tournament will be held in Carrolton/Farmers Branch in April.

The strong showing at regional competition continues Greenville ISD’s tradition of strong DI performances, which dates back to the days when the competition was called “Odyssey of the Mind.”  Greenville teams annually compete in local, regional, state and global competition, and several Greenville teams have brought home world titles.

DI is an international organization for kindergarten through college students and community groups that teaches life skills and expanding imaginations through creative problem solving. DI competition emphasizes creativity, teamwork, problem-solving, brainstorming, budgeting, project management, creative and critical thinking skills and presentation skills.

Teams of five to seven members work together to apply creativity, critical thinking and their particular talents to solve a Team Challenge.

The East Region stretches roughly from the Red River on the north to Angelina County on the south; west from the Texas-Louisiana border to Interstate 35, Mesquite ISD and Rockwall ISD and includes all public schools, private schools, parochial schools and home schools within the region’s boundaries.

Greenville ISD DI State Teams

Sixth Grade Center Hybrid Team: Coaches Sharen Ozarowski and Kim Mulder and students Emma Anderson, Ally Koger, McKenzy Mulder, Cole Mulkey, Allison Ozarowski, Chase Vance and Hayden Willeford.

GMS Eighth Grade Improv Team: Coach Bonnie Stewart and students Avery Arnold, Alex Hill, Katie McMurray, Delaney Stewart, Carol Twilley, Kacie Vance and Ariana Wager.

GHS Hybrid Team: Coaches JoAnn Hall, John Underhill and Catherine Hall and students Devon Johnson, Hannah Johnson, Heather Johnson, Monica Malone, Austin Minick and Cierra Williams.

GHS Structure Team: Coaches Bonnie Stewart, Catherine Cantrell and Bob Myer and students Tyler King, Sarah Perkins, Nathan Royall, Travis Tankersly, Blake Taylor and Lacey Thibault.

DiVinci Award: GHS Performance Team
 
DI Alum Scholarship: Heather Johnson