Horizon Middle School, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
KEARNEY — Kearney Public Schools is thrilled to announce that it will host the Destination Imagination (DI) Regional Competition on Saturday, March 7, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Horizon Middle School.
This exciting event highlights students’ creativity, problem-solving abilities, and teamwork as they participate in various STEM, fine arts, and service learning challenges.
During the competition, students will participate in two types of challenges: Team Challenges and Instant Challenges.
Team Challenges require students to develop solutions to prompts in categories such as fine arts, improvisational, engineering, technical, scientific, and service learning. Teams have been diligently preparing their solutions since October.
Instant Challenges test students’ ability to think quickly and collaborate effectively by solving on-the-spot problems.
Kearney Public Schools teams will compete for top honors in each category, with the opportunity to advance to the state competition at the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) in April. Sarah Hawthorne and Ashley Palu are KPS DI Coordinators.
“Our district is incredibly excited to host the regional competition for Western and Central Nebraska,” said Sarah Hawthorne, KPS Destination Imagination Coordinator. “It will be an action-packed day where students can showcase the amazing accomplishments of their teams. Destination Imagination gives students a unique opportunity to develop essential skills like creativity, communication, and collaboration. We’re incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication these students have shown in preparing for the competition, and we look forward to seeing their solutions come to life.”
This year, 25 KPS teams will represent schools from across the district: Participants include
- Northeast Daredevil Dills: Calliope Weiss, Tripp Lammers, Gabriel Davila, Corrie Dougherty, Wesley Margritz, Bowen Sorensen
- Scientific Constructors – Northeast: Anslee Zachek, Garrett Jacobsen, Julieta Gonzalez Nuno, Treyton Chaowlit, Zayden Trelka
- Voyager Dogs – Meadowlark: Jaxson Vickers, Silas Giovara, Barrett Fast, Bennett Schwartz, Archer Fryda, Yifei Huang, Oliver Kreman
- The Seven Dwarfs – Meadowlark: Willow Andersen, Adlea Walter, Tiem Tot, Celia Ritz, Charles Longo, Nolan Reiter, Miles Huddleston
- Park #2- Park: Ben Cunningham, Juliet Parish, Eve Lucas, Binlee Martin, Barrett Griffith
- Park #1- Park: River Beissel-Heath, Ogden Miller, Bryan Michael Artman, Charlotte Arredondo, Titus Holz, Barrett Holz, Judah Fowler
- The Rizz Wizards – Windy Hills: Kasey Melson, Abel Goodwin, Carter Schwartz, Lena Denton, Lillie Kreger, Lealand French
- The Ballers ~ Windy Hills: Kason Coffman, Karver Metz, Devam Dutta, Ava Downey, Jazmine Brown
- Bryant #1-Bryant: Maxwell Kortum, Rory Realpe-Roe, David Archundia Ramirez, Breydon Miller, Noah Dolence
- Meadowlark – Seven Musketeers: Jackson Borchers, Converse Svec, Anh Khoa, Nguyen, Brycen Placzek, Catherine Petzet, Aiden Schoneman, Abby Straetker
- Central #1 – Fine Arts: Skylar Swartz, Norah Moore, CJ Neujah, Zykiah Drake, Zac Arnold
- Central #2 – Engineering: Dreyton Graf, Zuriel Jimenez Lopez, Zuleyma Vazques Diaz, Greyson Webb
- Emerson- Fine Arts: Case Heilbrun, Oacley Tracy, Briar Straatmann-Burch, Maggie Kuhr, Chase Fulton, Charles Steele
- Windy Hills #2: Reese Davidson, Eleanor Benson, Beckett Bauer, Jonny Connot, Xander Cline, Emerick Henne
- Meadowlark- Boyz to the 6th Power: Jett Beezley, Easton Allison, Ian Westerbuhr, Jagger Schmoker, Daniel Homan, Carson Sang
- Skillful Helpers-Meadowlark: Maddy Kelley, Harper Thiel, Jack Moxley, Brooks Bazata, Harrison Palu, Blakely Otto, Baker Broekemeier
- The Suppliers-Meadowlark: Hudson Lutt, Ken Machida, Cooper Daly, Jace Deeds, Trey Wischmeier, Wyatt McElhinny
- Buffalo Hills #1 – Buffalo Hills: Beau Dobish, Asher Nutzman, Owen Morris, Declan Woodside, Mack Tidwell, Jasper Ganz, Henry Greisen
- Buffalo Hills #2 – Buffalo Hills: Elise Talbitzer, Regan Harter, Kenzie Polhemus, Beckitt Samuelson, Cooper Gealy, Tony Whenry
- Buffalo Hills #3 – Buffalo Hills: Oliver Volquardsen, Tatum Daake, Collins Akerson, Fletcher Bailey, Trey Tripe, Miles Fischer, Madelyn Cooley
- Buffalo Hills #4 – Buffalo Hills: Bergen Dutcher, Leighton Hinrichs, Michaela Oman, John Peterson, Luke McClain, Paxton Erickson
- Purple Dinos – Kenwood: Bode Landerfield, Sarah Holl, Isaac Moulton, Ana Carolina Severino, Jude McCartney
- Save the Turtles – Kenwood: Collin Urbanek, Addilyn Bettles, Dalton Todd, Logan Darr, Ellasyn Paine
- Super Power Monkeys – Kenwood: Tucker Killinger, Maddy Waples, Barker Brandt, Sadie Cartmill, Dean Pohlman
- Eekim – Kenwood: Wesley Greene, Brody Buerer, Lyla Smith, Harper Lind
First, second and third place winners will be awarded in each challenge and level. In addition, three additional awards COULD be given. They are:
- 1. DaVinci Award: Given to reward a unique approach to a solution, risk taking, or outstanding creativity (not skill or talent). For this award solutions neednot be successful to be received.
- 2. Spirit of Discovery and Imagination Award (Spirit of DI Award): Given to recognize those who act as a superior role model in the area of spirit, sportsmanship, and volunteerism.
- 3. Renaissance Award: Given for outstanding design, engineering, execution or performance.
- 4. Torchbearers Award Service-Learning teams are eligible for this award based on the continued impact of their project on their community.
The community is invited to attend and cheer on these young innovators as they present their projects. The event is free and open to the public.
About Destination Imagination
Destination Imagination, Inc. is a global educational nonprofit dedicated to inspiring and equipping youth to become the next generation of innovators and leaders. The program focuses on creativity, critical thinking, and collaborative problem-solving through project-based learning challenges in STEM, the arts, and service learning.
