Twenty Greenville ISD teams competed in the Destination Imagination East Region tournament this weekend against more than 200 teams and proudly walked away with four first place, four second place, three fourth place, and one fifth place finish. Additionally, Greenville High School students Rachael Garrett and Reah Dawson were awarded scholarships at the regional ceremony.

The following first place teams will be advancing to state:

Elementary Level Scientific Team with team members Scarlett Duke, Nicholas Just, Lilly Whitson, Aiden Cheney, Ava Overstreet, Ava Walker, and Zane Safar researched camouflage in nature and created a story about how the character used camo to create a plot twist. The team was managed by Emily Duke and Cynthia DuBois

Middle Level Fine Arts with team members Gregory Just, Stella Duke, Sara Whitson, John Hill, Sydney Homerstad, Ana Alvarez and Brye Harmon researched a time period before 1990 and created a play with mystery characters and a techniclue that helped unveil the real culprit. The team was managed by Emily Duke, Catherine Just, and Emely Whitson. This team was also awarded a Divinci for Outstanding Creativity

Middle Level Structure had to build the lightest structure (weighing only a few grams) that holds the most weight (hundreds of pounds) and incorporate music into their structure and skit. Team members include Caleb Manley, Preston Norris, Morgan Green, Jenna Ramsour, Isabella Shiflet, and Lydia Spivey and the team was managed by Shannon Manley and Jeff Norris.

Secondary Level Improv researched confined spaces throughout the world such as Elvador Lacerda in Brazil and the Malapa fossil sight at the Cradle of Humankind and created a foor minute skit on the spot highlighting their research and teamwork skills. Team Members included Rachael Garrett, Ariel Taylor, Jada Hilburn, Mandi Isom, Jaycie Haugen and Jace Kilmer and team managers were Emily Duke and Lori Butler.

The Destination Imagination program encourages teams of learners to have fun, take risks, focus, and frame challenges while incorporating STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), the arts, and service learning. GISD Destination Imagination Coordinator Emily Duke stated, “The twenty teams that competed spent countless hours preparing for this one day to shine. Students learn team work and dedication and how to push themselves to do and be their very best.”

Greenville ISD has Destination Imagination teams on every campus in grades K through 12. For more information about the district’s program, please contact GISD Destination Imagination Coordinator Emily Duke at dukeel@greenvilleisd.com.