Twelve Mount Pleasant Independent School District Destination Imagination (DI) teams competed against over 100 teams from the East Texas Region of DI. Nine MPISD teams brought home medals for their efforts and four of those are advancing to the state tournament, the Lone Star Finals, in March.
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 Flying Piggie Pilots from P.E. Wallace Middle School and Annie Sims Elementary placed 1st in the Engineering Challenge and have advanced to state. This is the 2nd year in a row for them to claim the Regional Championship. Advancing team members include Abigail Tolentino, Sebastian Otero, Joahn Balderas, Annalie Mata, Kinlee Castro, and Liam Boyd.
The Comeback Rubber Duckies from Wallace placed 1st in the Improvisational Challenge and have advanced to state. Additionally, they earned the Highest Instant Challenge score. Advancing team members are Lily Henry, Ariadnna Martinez, Jannahi Castro, Caleb Townson, Aldi Orona, and Jonathan Williams.
The Algecat Tricksters from Sims placed 2nd in the Engineering Challenge and have advanced to state. They also earned the Highest Instant Challenge score. Advancing team members are Jake Jones, Sam Jones, Fahra Abbas, Insiyah Abbas, and Camila Cates.
The Smart Penguins Going Bananas from E.C. Brice Elementary earned 2nd place in the Improvisational Challenge and have advanced to state. Advancing team members are Kaylyn Andrade, Josie Rodriguez, Anna Henry, Judah Deal, and Eddie Olva.
Other MPISD medalists include the Super Puzzlers from Frances Corprew Elementary who earned 2nd place in the Technical Challenge. The Super Puzzlers were made up of Christian Banda, Nayeli Pulquero, Heli Hernandez, Ethan Ramirez, Jamie Douglas, Jaime Gallardo, and Joseph Adame.
The Purple Pandas from Corprew placed 4th in the Engineering Challenge. Team members included Piper Martin, Aayden Diaz, Nylah Bell, and Matthew Bailiff.
And the TigersBSmart team from Vivian Fowler Elementary placed 3rd in the Technical Challenge and received the Spirit of DI award given to teams for exceptional spirit, teamwork, volunteerism, and sportsmanship. Team members included Ivania Jimenez, Aaron Garcia, Josue Robles, Cristian De La Hoya, Mallory Mancera, Damian Martinez, and Bruno De La Hoya.
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. From Fowler, We Don’t Talk About Bruno Ever included team members Michael Berry, Messiah Lewis, Ariana Ramirez, Diva Desai, and Hayzlie Gonzalez. And from Brice, the Crafty Instrumentals were Kijani Ofori, Gian Gutierrez, Alan Perez, Jacob Hernandez, Sophia Robertson, Shirley Chen, and Beckett Barkley.
Also competing for MPISD were the Crystal Fires from Fowler who placed 6th in the Improvisational Challenge. The Crystal Fires included Andrea Garcia, Nicole Munoz, Zuley Banda, Melody Hernandez, and Chloe Olvera.
The Creative Ninja Chickens from Brice placed 7th in the Improvisational Challenge. Team members were Avalyn Netro, Connor Koder, Natalia Portales, Shane Dimon, and Kolten Heeren.
And the Power Potatoes from Fowler/Wallace placed 14th in the Fine Arts Challenge. Team members included Josiah Segovia, Scottlyn Lee, Allison Blackburn, Giavani Williams, and Dannen Carroll.
“I am overwhelmed, overjoyed, and proud beyond measure of our Destination Imagination students,” said MPISD Destination Imagination Coordinator, Jamie King. “Every campus brought home medals. My heart is absolutely full and I’m ready to plan a state trip and a global trip for MPISD Destination Imagination.”
King continued, “On tournament day several teachers volunteered to help. I loved the way we worked together as a MPISD Destination Imagination Family to support our students. I love MPISD, these kids, and their families with all my heart.”
The Lone Star Finals will be at the University of Texas at Arlington on March 24 and 25. The MPISD Destination Imagination Teams are coached by Jamie King and Kristi Berry (We Don’t Talk About Bruno Ever from Fowler). A special thank you goes to Mrs. Ramirez, Mrs. Ybarbo, Mrs. Heeren, Mrs. Perez, Mr. Portales, Dr. Otero, Mrs. De La Hoya, Mrs. Lee, and Mrs. Zuniga for their assistance.