Mount Pleasant Independent School District Destination Imagination (DI) made history again when sixteen teams competed against over 100 teams from the East Texas Region of DI at Mesquite Poteet High school on Saturday, February 7. Twelve MPISD teams brought home medals for their efforts and five of those are advancing to the state tournament, the Lone Star Finals, in April. A team from Corprew became the first to advance to state in Improv from that campus, and a combined team from Wallace Middle School and Mount Pleasant Junior High became the first to compete and advance to state in two different challenges.

A Destination Imagination Team Challenge is an open-ended project that teams work on over an extended period of time, usually 2-4 months. There are seven new Team Challenges each year: Engineering, Technical, Scientific, Fine Arts, Improvisational, Service Learning, and Early Learning Challenge (Rising Stars!).

The Goofy Gorilla Slushy Snakes from Frances Corprew became the first team from that campus to advance to state, placing 2nd in the Improvisational Challenge. Team members include Ryder Allen, Jonathan Barboza, Raegan George, Cecilia Sanchez, Cristobal Tapia, Gunnar Webber, and Scarlett Zuniga.

The combined team of Kinlee Castro, Kate Cluley, Jake Jones, Sam Jones, Annalie Mata and Mailen Tapia competed in the Improvisational Challenge as the Uhmazing Undercover Underdogs and in the Engineering Challenge as the Flying Catapig Dumplings. Not only did they place 1st in both and advance to state in both, they earned the highest Instant Challenge score in the entire region and walked away with a special Renaissance award, a rare honor given by the appraisers to teams that demonstrate extraordinary amounts of effort and preparation in their solutions or outstanding skill in engineering, design or performance.

From Wallace Middle School, the Planetary Penguins placed 1st in the Improvisational Challenge and have advanced to state. The team is made up of Benji Baker, Judah Deal, Callie Dimon, Ezra Evans, Peyton Glenn, Anna Henry, and Avalyn Netro.

And in the Engineering Challenge, the Hardworking Massive Pandas representing Wallace Middle School placed 1st in the Engineering Challenge and advanced to state. Those team members are Jakeb Aguilar, Giovannie Contreras, Gian Gutierrez, Jacob Hernandez, Alan Perez, Ariana Ramirez, and Sophia Robertson.

Other MPISD medalists were Prime Elemental from Sims that earned 3rd place medals plus a special DaVinci Award. Team members include Madilyn Howard, Ian Keahey, Diego Mayorga, and Lucas Sanchez-Mata. Placing 3rd and earning the highest elementary level Instant Challenge score for the entire region were the Pizza Pirates from Wallace Middle School. Team members were Jackson Bailiff, Melanie Bautista, and Kenley Collier. The Mystical Magical Tigers from Brice earned 2nd place medals and were made up of Stella Deal, Miranda Martinez, Rowan McCollum, Karim Valdez, and Ava Waldrep. From Frances Corprew, Daniel Adame, D’Royce Evans, Hezekiah Newton, and Osmar Ramirez earned 3rd place medals as the Camouflaged Chameleons. The Silly Spidermonkeys 2.0 from Wallace placed 3rd and consisted of Joseph Adame, Liam Boyd, Alexa Cano, and Zuleymi Mendoza. In 3rd place in their division, the Knight Kducks from MPJH included Jannahi Castro, Lily Henry, Cooper Tallant, Caleb Townson, Emmalyn Thurman, and Jonathan Williams. The British Capydinos from MPJH placed 4th in their division. Team members were Allison Blackwell, Dannen Carroll, Shane Dimon, Ivania Jimenez, and Nayeli Pulquero.

MPISD also had two teams that medaled in the Rising Star division, an early learners’ challenge that offers simple experiences with the creative process and gives young kids preschool through 2nd grade experience with working together. The Annie Sims Community Helpers team members were Julian Dorantes, Lincoln Litke, Koen Martinez, Adrian Mayorga, Darwin Pimentel, Thiago Puente, and Timber Temples. And from Brice, the Pizza Eating Komodo Dragons included Nicholas Arroyo, Asher Deal, Eli Henry, Matthew Gonzalez, Lauren Jones, Renata Martinez, and Bentley Taylor.

Also competing for MPISD were the Annie Sims Rainbowtastic Pandas (MJ Cluley, Aaron Ferreira, Josie Hawkins, Aaron Ramirez, and Autumn Zambrano) and from Brice, the Curious Axolotl Dogs (Sebastian Godoy, Tinley Heeren, Victoria Leroy, Itzyana Rodriguez, and Logan Rundles.)

Advancing teams will compete again at the Lone Star Finals at the University of Texas at Arlington on April 10 and 11. The MPISD Destination Imagination Teams are coached by Jamie King. Team managers include Adriana Sanchez, Courtney Cluley, Elizabeth Jones, Candace Heeren, Maggie Martinez, Cassie George, Kaylene Dimon, Christi Thurman, Sayra Netro, Kylie Collier, Tommie Castro, Elda Hernandez, Jack Jones, and Melissa Jones. Special assistance was provided by Carrie Henry, Jacob Deal, Randi Bailiff, Heather Boyd, and Amanda Mendoza.

Photos:

· Wallace/MPJH Flying Cattapig Dumplings and earned the highest Instant Challenge score for the entire region and received a special Renaissance Award. Team members became the first MPISD team to advance to state in two different challenges

· The Wallace Planetary Penguins placed 1st in their division and advanced to state

· Wallace/MPJH Uhmazing Undercover Underdogs earned the highest middle level Instant Challenge score for the entire region. Team members became the first MPISD team to advance to state in two different challenges.

· The Wallace Hardworking Massive Pandas placed 1st in their category and advanced to state

· The Goofy Gorilla Slushy Snakes became the first team from Corprew to advance to state in Improv