Area teams win big with Imagination

More than 1,200 students from schools all over Southern New Hampshire put their creativity and quick thinking to the test and competed in Destination Imagination tournaments over the weekend.

Students competed in regional tournaments held in Nashua and also in Kingston at Sanborn Regional High School.

Teams of students, from elementary up through high school, competed in Destination Imagination regional events, with several teams representing area schools winning big to go on to state competition later this month, and a chance to qualify for the world finals in May in Tennessee.

Local teams represented schools including Chester Academy, Londonderry, Derry, Calvary Christian School and Pinkerton Academy. Teams of up to seven students solved challenges that incorporated school subjects with a focus based on mechanical and technical design, structural and architectural design, science, theater, literature, fine arts, research, and international studies, or a combination of several. Teams chose one of five challenges and then had to think fast and solve a problem for competition judging.

This year's challenges were "Obstacles, of Course!" "Hit or Myth," "I've Got a Secret!" "Chorific!" and "SWITCH!"

Local teams going on to compete at the state level include the following: Londonderry High School, "Obstacles, of Course!" secondary level; Chester Academy, "Hit or Myth," elementary level; Pinkerton Academy, "Hit or Myth," secondary level; Chester Academy, "Chorific!" elementary level, and Derry Homeschool Group, "Chorific!" elementary level; Londonderry High School, "Chorific!" secondary level, and Londonderry High School, "SWITCH!" secondary level.

These teams will advance to state competition on March 29 in Plaistow. Winners at the state level will compete against teams from all 50 states and 20 countries in the world finals.

In addition, local teams were honored with special awards for their outstanding creativity and problem-solving talents. Chester Academy elementary students took a DaVinci Award for Outstanding Creativity for an original vehicle they created for the challenge "Obstacles, of Course!" Londonderry High School students also earned a DaVinci Award for an Instant Challenge.

Calvary Christian School students earned a Renaissance Award for Outstanding Design, Engineering, Execution, and Performance for a team improvisation.

Photos

Pinkerton Academy senior Laura DesMarais, left, a "statue," talks with fellow "statue" and senior Katie Guest about the story of Icarus and Daedalus that they were rehearsing on Saturday afternoon, March 15, at the N.H.-DI Kingston Regional Meet at Sanborn Regional High School. Background, from left, are Ryan Guest, an eighth-grader, and junior Sarah DelCore, getting their wings ready to fly. The Pinkerton Academy team was rehearsing for their "Hit or Myth" challenge. Staff photo