38 NH School Teams Head to Global Competition Next Week

38 NH student teams from 33 schools are packing their bags this week. Next week they will be competing at  the world’s largest creative thinking and problem solving competition for kids, Destination Imagination Global Finals.

RELATED LINKS: NH-DI.org/Globals ;

Team New Hampshire will be joining the record setting 1,419 qualifying teams, featuring participants from 42 states and 14 countries at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

With more than 15,000 teams competing at the regional Destination Imagination Challenge tournaments throughout the year, only the top teams received a coveted spot at Global Finals. During the week-long competition, these teams will present their regional project and compete in open-ended challenges. These challenges require the team to solve a problem using a holistic approach of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) knowledge, improvisation, theater arts, writing, project management, communication innovation, teamwork and community service, in one of seven challenge categories.

“This is a kid-powered, kid-empowering program”, according to NH Destination Imagination Executive Director, Jill Schoonmaker. “These challenges are kids-hands-on and adults-hands-off.”

“Every year I look forward to seeing the top teams enthusiastically use their reasoning, problem solving skills, courage to take a risk, and perseverance to solve their Challenge,” said Chuck Cadle, Chief Executive Officer of Destination Imagination, Inc. “Since the beginning, we’ve been able to give these students a once in a lifetime experience where they learn 21st century skills that will be used throughout their life.”

“Destination Imagination’s Global Finals event is a fantastic exhibition of the 4Cs of Creativity, Communication, Collaboration, and Critical Thinking in action. We are proud to count DI among members of P21, and celebrate their efforts to bring the power of creativity to students around the globe,” said Dr. Steve Paine, President of Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21).

Opening Ceremony will be webcast live at 7:30 Wednesday evening, May 22nd. More information is available at NH-DI.org and GlobalFinals.org.

There were over 300 teams from around the state who competed to attend Global Finals. The teams from the following communities will be representing New Hampshire: