Madison DI teams ace state, headed to nationals

(CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Destination Imagination (DI) teams in Madison used broad-minded thinking to win local, state and regional titles and now will vie for national recognition.

Teams from Bob Jones high, Discovery and Liberty middle and Madison elementary schools will represent Alabama at DI’s Global Finals on May 22-26 at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. More than 10,000 students from most 50 states and 20-plus foreign countries will attend.

Bob Jones’ “No Fun Intended” and Discovery’s “DMS Disco Divas” won first place in their divisions in the “Wind Visible” scientific challenge. Teams’ solutions featured kinetic art and wind energy, coach Robin Dauma said.

Bob Jones’ “DIstracted” won first place in “Change in Realitee” improvisational drama challenge. Teams created all costumes and props from plain white T-shirts and demonstrated unique communications techniques.

Discovery’s “ProcrasDInation” won first place in “In the Zone” vehicle challenge. They created ten small modules that traveled by three propulsion methods.

“No Fun Intended” includes Bobbie Hoskins, Crystal Kleinjung, Rebecca Passer, Maura Smith and Mimi Thaicum. “DIstracted” members are Richard Brasseale, Nathan Daniel, Lindsey Martin, Sarah Schumacher, Olivia Skillern, Sarah Grace Skillern and Shannon Walker.

“ProcrasDInation” includes Alec Dauma, Turner Dauma, Elijah Johnson, Emmanuel Johnson, Nicholas Nave, Nihar Patel and John Schumacher. “Disco Divas” are Jenny Baldwin, Emily Jenkins, Megan Lamps, Lauren McDaniel, Anya Smith and Laura Weber.

From Liberty, “Gear Burgers” in vehicle challenge will serve as Alabama’s ‘wild card’ team at globals after earning second place at regionals at the University of Alabama in Huntsville on April 6. Members are Connor Gilpin, Matthew Joens, John Larsen and J.D. Strickland, coach Leslie Hughes said.

From Madison elementary, “The Dynamic Imagineers” competed in scientific challenge by exploring wind energy. They designed and created kinetic art and used research “to make the art move,” coach Kazemia Reed said. Their performance included a world news broadcast, NASA trip to the sun and moon crash landing.

Madison’s team includes Ali Haggart, Amber Guo, Carmen Mosley, Alex Scalf and Janae Slade.