Eureka teams excel in problem-solving

Three secondary-level teams from Eureka’s Chrysalis School won first-place awards in three challenges at the Northwest Montana regional Destination ImagiNation competition last week.

The teams competed in creative problem-solving skills challenges to qualify for the Destination ImagiNation Global Finals in Knoxville, Tenn., in May. Secondary-level teams includes ninth- through 12th-graders.

Destination ImagiNation is an international competition that encourages out-of-the-box thinking, teaching children there are many ways to approach and solve problems. The competition offers students a chance to showcase critical thinking, presentation, brainstorming, time management and research skills by solving challenges in five different areas of interest.

Eureka’s Team Disciples of Murphy’s Law took first place in the Solar Stage challenge and was given top honors with the DaVinci Award, the highest award given at the competition. Team members integrated a team-designed solar-energy prototype that demonstrated a new way to collect, capture and use solar energy.

Team Blooper Troopers won first place in the Coming Attractions challenge where they presented a movie trailer involving cinematic special effects and an original soundtrack.

In the News to Me challenge, the Steel Woolly Mammoths won first after creating a five-minute improvisational skit about the cause and effect between a major and minor news event.

Montana Destination ImagiNation also presented two $500 college scholarships; among the winners was Tia Luciano of Lincoln High School in Eureka.