Fourteen NISD Destination Imagination teams advancing to state

Fourteen Northwest ISD student teams will advance to the Destination Imagination Lone Star Finals Tournament in March after earning superior scores at the regional competition.

The teams move forward after competing at the Greater Fort Worth Regional Destination Imagination Tournament early February. A total of 68 teams from NISD participated in the event.

"Destination Imagination is valuable for so many reasons," said Audra Rowell, NISD advanced academics coordinator. "Both the Team Challenge and Instant Challenge push students to think creatively, solve problems, and collaborate effectively — skills that are essential for success in any path they choose."

The regional tournament featured two components: a Central Challenge, which teams had been preparing since October, and an Instant Challenge, she said. The scores from both challenges were combined, and teams were ranked first through sixth place within their respective challenge and age group.

DI cultivates students’ creativity, courage, and curiosity through open-ended academic challenges in the fields of STEM, fine arts and service learning, Rowell said. Team members learn patience, flexibility, persistence, ethics, respect for others and their ideas, and the collaborative problem-solving process.   

"Many teams stay together for years, building lasting friendships along the way," Rowell said. "Beyond the competition, DI fosters a true partnership between schools and the community, bringing together students, parents, educators, team managers, and appraisers in a shared celebration of innovation and teamwork."

Strong performance by NISD teams

Thirty-eight NISD teams received medals, showcasing their talent across elementary, middle and high school levels, Rowell said. 

Secondary schools with teams placing in the top six include Medlin, Adams and Wilson middle schools as well as Byron Nelson, Northwest and Eaton high schools. At the elementary level, top-ranking teams were from Lakeview, Roanoke, JC Thompson, Beck, Granger, Peterson, Berkshire, Carter, and Hatfield.

High school teams advancing to Lone Star Finals:
• Fire Breathing Rubber Ducks (Byron Nelson)
• Spaced Out (Byron Nelson)
• RCBC (Eaton)
• Middle School Teams Advancing:
• Bakin’ Bacon (Medlin)
• Wait...What?!?! (Medlin)

Elementary school teams advancing:
• The Wabbits (Lakeview)
• Slay Queens (JCT)
• Optimistic Orcas! (Peterson)
• Wolf Den Dominators (Seven Hills)

Five additional teams recently were invited to compete at the Lone Star Finals:
• Something, D (Wilson)
• Insert Team Name Here (Byron Nelson)
• Mischief Managed (Hatfield)
• Celestial Explorers (Medlin)
• Spaced Out (Byron Nelson/Northwest)

Additionally, several teams earned the highest Instant Challenge scores in their category, including Spaced Out (Byron Nelson), RCBC (Eaton), Wait...What?!?! (Medlin), Bakin’ Bacon (Medlin), The Wabbits (Lakeview), and Slay Queens (JCT). Spaced Out from Byron Nelson excelled in two challenges, achieving high scores in both.

Twenty-five NISD teams also participated in the Rising Stars Challenge, a non-competitive division for kindergarten through second-grade students. 

Awards and special recognitions

The Celestial Explorers from Medlin received the Renaissance Award for their innovative and unique technobabble robot.

The Magellan Award, which recognizes students who have participated in all six DI challenges throughout their DI careers, was awarded to:
• Snehal Gupta
• Carter Fine
• James Boyd
• Nicholas Golden

This award encourages students to push their creative boundaries, explore new ideas and embrace a spirit of discovery. Named after the famed explorer Ferdinand Magellan, the honor represents a commitment to continuous learning and innovation.

Senior recognitions and scholarships

Nine NISD seniors were recognized for their dedication to Destination Imagination throughout their school careers. These students will be presented with an honor cord to wear at their graduation in May.

Honorees include:
• James Boyd
• Carter Fine
• Will Koch
• Annebelle Hoffman
• Jonah Hoffman
• Haley Lentz
• Erin Reisman
• Caitlin Stamm
• Zoe Tsapos

Additionally, Byron Nelson senior Zoe was awarded the Karen Crawford Memorial Scholarship by the Greater Fort Worth DI Regional Board. This scholarship is presented to an individual who has significantly contributed to the growth and success of DI at the regional level. 

“Zoe’s dedication to the program, including her service, recruitment efforts, and volunteerism, earned her this distinguished honor,” Rowell said. “Zoe has been attending DI tournaments since the age of three when her older siblings competed, making her involvement a lifelong passion.”

Looking ahead

For more information on Destination Imagination, visit idodi.org. Details on the Lone Star Finals can be found at texasdi.org. For students looking for a summer adventure, a Creative Problem-Solving Camp will be hosted at Granger Elementary the week of June 16.

Northwest ISD Destination Imagination GFW Results

Challenge: Are We There Yet (Improv)

Challenge: Breaking Point (Technical)

Challenge: High Wire Act (Engineering)

Challenge: Less is More (Fine Arts)

Challenge: This or That (Service Learning)

Challenge: Worlds Beyond (Scientific)