Huron Destination Imagination takes five first place teams to the Global Finals Competiton on Thursday, May 21. Teams compete on an international scale with hundreds of teams from all over the world.
Callee Bauman Wachter, Huron school District’s coordinator of the programs says “This is record breaking! We have never had so many teams compete at Global Finals, and it’s telling of how talented our students are. Teams have put work in since September to earn this high honor and opportunity. I am so proud of their work.”
Bauman Wachter has been in charge of the program for the past four years and has seen extreme growth in the program. Bauman Wachter says, “When we start in the fall, they are just a group of kids with a shared interest. By the time May comes around, they have built something special, a really cohesive team.”
Global Finals is the world’s largest celebration of student creativity and the culminating international tournament for Destination Imagination. Each year, thousands of top-tier student teams from across the globe gather to present their solutions to open-ended, STEM-focused Team Challenges. Bauman Wachter states, “The competition is wonderful experience to illustrate to our students that they have a place in the world, and can be recognized for their creative efforts”.
There are 28 service learning teams competing against The Pretty Penguins – coached by Callee Bauman Wachter and Kahlie Smith. Students on that team are from Buchanan K-1 Center. Ashlee DeVries, Blayke Smith, Addisyn Goth, & Margo Wachter. They were tasked with determining a real community need where they designed and executed a hands-on service project, and wrote a theatrical story to share their journey. Their project included working with seniors and celebrating them with “A birthday party for all”. Traveling to 9 regional senior facilities across the region.
The Top Secret Heroes, coached by Callee Bauman Wachter and Kahlie Smith, compete in the engineering challenge. They go head to head against 39 teams to make a student-driven, STEM-based project where teams design, build, and test load-bearing structures and mechanical devices. Beyond just building, students must write, produce, and perform a creative theatrical story that incorporates their engineering creation into the plot. Team members include Evangeline Wachter, Nylah Perez, Blakely Briley, Janae Smith, and Masyn Bales and represent Madison 2-3 Center.
Bobbie and the Bobettes represent the Huron Middle School with team members Georgia Wachter, Calvin Brace, Luxanna Metter, Kiersten Mittelstedt, Kathryn Schumacher and Avery Carr. They are coached by Callee Bauman Wachter. They have taken on the technical challenge and will battle against 57 teams from around the world for top honors. Students compete by applying the engineering design process, science, and math to build physical devices like vehicles or robots. Teams must also integrate their creations into a cohesive, original theatrical storyline. The Technical Challenge blends hands-on engineering with performing arts, encouraging students to develop skills in circuitry, mechanics, and structural design while building their confidence.
Team Mystery Ink is comprised of Ella Dawkins and Tason Diehl of the Huron High School. They are coached by Valerie Brodkorb. They are in the Fine Arts Challenge and compete against 30 other teams. For this challenge they combine theater arts, scriptwriting, and prop design. Teams work over several months to write an original, scripted performance and build handmade costumes, sets, and props to bring their story to life on stage. Katie Halbur coaches the Elemental Ghosts Improvisation Team. This team against 23 other high school teams. It’s an on-the-spot problem-solving event. Teams are tasked with researching specific topics, then creating and performing a brand-new 5-minute skit at their tournament with almost zero preparation. The challenge strictly tests students’ ability to think on their feet, adapt to unexpected constraints, and collaborate under pressure. Team members are high school students Leo Schumacher, Avalon Halbur, & Thanh Truong.
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