Local students qualify for national tournament

The Daily Inter Lake

Creative thinkers from Bigfork, Kalispell, Lakeside-Somers and Eureka schools were at the top of the pack in last weekend's Destination ImagiNation state tournament.

Bigfork came in as the biggest local winner, with three of its teams qualifying for the Global Finals Tournament May 25-28 in Knoxville, Tenn.

Destination ImagiNation each year tests students' problem-solving and creative-thinking abilities by asking them to create solutions to challenges in a variety of categories.

This year's state competition was held in Manhattan. More than 330 third- through 12th-grade students on 56 teams from 32 schools took part. Many teams have been working out solutions to their long-term challenges since last fall.

First-place winners in each age level of each category qualified to compete in Knoxville. Teams will be launching fund-raising efforts to cover expenses in the near future; contact the schools if you would like to help.

This year's categories and their local winners follow:

. DIzzy Derby - Design a reliable vehicle with a technical energy source that races against the clock to complete the greatest number of laps on a triangular track. Design for speed alone or gain extra points with risky detours.

Middle grades: Skid Marks (Bigfork team), first place; Kalispell Junior High, second place.

. Sudden SerenDIpity - Create an invention when serendipity (discovery by chance) strikes. Present the Story of SerenDIpity and demonstrate the invention.

Elementary grades: Kreative Kids (Bigfork team), first place.

Middle grades: Elrod sixth grade, first place.

. Live! It's RaDIo - Create a story that can be told without pictures, an original radio show being performed live with live sound effects for a radio audience. Include a commercial with an outrageous claim for a product, and a breaking news bulletin.

Elementary grades: Extremely Cool People, Lakeside-Somers, second place.

Middle grades: Caseyz Angelz (Bigfork team), second place.

. IMPROVing Along - Study 12 modes of transportation, then be ready to use one of them to create an IMPROVmobile and a skit that has a travel game and an invisible prop. Show what happens along the way and take only 30 minutes to plan the skit.

Elementary grades: Master Minds (Bigfork team), first place.

Middle grades: Bigfork Junior High, second place.

. DIsigning Bridges - Build a bridge out of wood, glue and fishing line, and make it hold weight. Length and strength of the bridge determine the final score. Test the bridge while presenting a story about a bridge between two nations' cultures.

Elementary grades: Y.W.N. Your Worst Nightmare (Eureka team), first place; TNT (Lakeside-Somers team), second place.