HURON — The Destination Imagination Global Finals were contested May 20-23 in Kansas City, Mo. The three teams from Huron who attended Globals competed with more than 900 hundred teams from around the world. Destination Imagination is a creative problem-solving organization that highlights the tenets of STEAM education – science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

The Huron teams competed against kids in their own age brackets, either elementary, middle level, or high school level competitions. Huron had two elementary teams and one high school team compete this year.

The high school team – Unhinged Unilopes – competed in the engineering challenge and its members included Leo Schumacher, Lah Ba Noe, Tucker Micheel, Allison Lucklum, Damon Schmidt and Mylie Byrd. They were coached by Kathy Micheel and Angie Rans. The Unhinged Unilopes competed against 19 teams worldwide and were placed 17th in the competition.

The fifth-grade team – The 7 Extra-Terrestrial Legends - with members Charleston Wachter and Jade Dunn were coached by Callee Bauman Wachter and also competed in the engineering challenge at the elementary level. Both teams competed in the engineering challenge – where the main task was to build a functional roller coaster track for a golf-ball. The 5th grade team competed against 46 other teams from across the globe and ranked 25th in their overall score from the competition.

The second and third grade team – Shooting Pizza Stars - with team members including Georgia Wachter, Luxanna Metter, Calvin Brace, Kathryn Schumacher, Kiersten Mittelstedt and Ky’Myah Bass were also coached by Callee Bauman Wachter. They chose the Fine Arts Challenge, where they created a story with a “twist” from a well-known tale. They chose a new take on “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer.” All teams had eight minutes to complete the main challenge and were given five minutes to provide an improvisational solution to an “instant” challenge presented to all teams competing in the International Tournament.  Out of 51 teams from across the globe, the Shooting Pizza Stars ranked 23rd overall and they took top-5 honors in the instant challenge portion of the competition.

“We are so grateful for the sponsors and community support that helped provide the opportunity for our teams to participate in the Global Tournament,” said Bauman Wachter. “Craig Slepikas from Modern Woodmen, helped match funds from a fundraiser created to take the kids to the competition. We are so grateful to Craig and Modern Woodman for their partnership. It helped get these kids to their fundraising goal for their trip.”

Other partners include The WINGS Foundation, United Way - Heartland Region, Northwestern Grants, Farm Credit Services, and the Huron Community Foundation.

Destination Imagination is a team-building activity for kids, led by the kids, which uses all their imagination skills with the use of STEAM-based education. If you are interested in finding out more information about Destination Imagination, please feel free to contact them at [email protected], on Facebook at Huron’s Awesome Destination Imagination or Huron Destination or visit the website destinationimagination.org.

The new year program will begin in the Huron School district again this fall. The first “interest meeting” will be held Thursday, Sept. 28, at the Huron Middle School Commons.