Three Destination ImagiNation teams advance to Global Finals

April 19, 2004|by CANDICE BOSELY

TOWSON, Md. - Three Washington County teams did so well in the state's Destination ImagiNation final competition Saturday in Towson, Md., that they will now move on to the event's Global Finals next month in Tennessee.

Teams from Clear Spring Middle School, Smithsburg High School and Emma K. Doub Elementary School in Hagerstown will move on, said Shawn Rosenthal, a parent involved in the event. A team had to win first or second place in a challenge to move on to the global finals, which will feature teams from around the world, she said.

Rosenthal said the local teams and the awards bestowed on them include:

Emma K. Doub Elementary School placed first in the Cartoon Dimensions challenge.

Clear Spring Middle School's team placed second in the GuessDImate challenge.

Smithsburg High's team placed second in the Destinations in Time challenge.

Clear Spring Elementary School students received a DaVinci Award for Creativity for their rain forest project. The team also finished in fifth place in the GuessDImate challenge.

A team from St. Mary's School (middle school level) placed fourth in The Plot and the Pendulum challenge.

A team from St. Mary's School (secondary level) placed fourth in the Upbeat Improv challenge.

Northern Middle School teacher Mark Kaniski received a Spirit of the Eye award. Kaniski managed five teams in four different challenges. One of his teams finished in fifth place in the Destinations in Time challenge.

Altogether, 13 teams from Washington County participated in the state finals. Global finals are to be held May 26-29 at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

Although her daughter's team from St. Mary's School did not place, Rosenthal said it's a very enjoyable event.

"The kids just had a ball. They really do make it fun," Rosenthal said.

Destination ImagiNation is one of the world's largest creativity and problem-solving programs for children. Every year, thousands of students from 47 states, 15 countries and Canadian provinces participate, according to the Destination ImagiNation Web site.

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