M7 nabs perfect score
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Photo Provided
The Magnificent Seven (Top Row): Kylie Edmonds, Sarah Benczik, David Gabhart and Andrea Zentz. Front row: Tim Speicher, Todd Bolt and Ben Speicher. |
News-Mirror
Staff Report
The Destination ImagiNation� competition was established in 1983 to enable students to use what they have learned in the classroom by applying it in a creative challenge.
�It is creative problem-solving,� Jennita Speicher, team manager explained. �Educators found out that they could train a child�s mind to be more creative, in much the same way that athletes train their muscles for their sport.�
Team creativity is on display at Destination ImagiNation�. The team is M7 � Magnificent 7. The team this year chose to compete in two challenges - ConnecDId and Theater SmARTS. This is the first time a team in Indiana has taken on two challenges. Students did very well at the state competition in Noblesville to say the least.
M7 accomplished a rare perfect score of 300 and won the overall competition for their category at state. Next up is the Global Finals, at the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville, May 21-24.
�The perfect score is like getting a �10� in gymnastics,� Speicher said. They earned their perfect score for their original work, �Allegory of Man�s Journey.�
Speicher is the team manager along with Denise Benczik. Benczik is also the coordinator for the Destination ImagiNation� program for the Plymouth schools. The two managers have fully funded M7 investing $600 out of pocket to date. The Plymouth Kiwanis is the team�s sponsor in name this season.
M7 consists of the same team members that were on the Global championship team last year.
�The students are an independent team and not affiliated with a school this season.� Speicher explained. �They enjoyed each other so much last year, that they had been working on their projects since last summer.�
The team includes Andrea Zentz, Tim Speicher, Ben Speicher, David Gabhart and Kylie Edmonds, all from Triton High School. Sarah Benczik is from Trinity School at Greenlawn and Todd Bolt is from Warsaw Community High School.
The students made all their own costumes and masks. The concept of Destination ImagiNation� is to have students work without the assistance of adult help.
�The main thing is that adults don�t build or sew anything,� Speicher explained. �The adults only serve as facilitators.�
There will be up to 60 teams competing in Knoxville. Teams included in the global competition come from 47 states, 15 countries and some Canadian provinces. M7 had the opportunity to meet the Korean team they competed against last year at the Global finals. The opportunity to meet students from all over the world is one of the big draws for reaching the next level of competition.
�That is one of the big benefits,� the team manager said. �The teams they meet there are future world leaders, who can think and solve creatively.�
M7 is currently working to raise money for their trip to Knoxville. Donations can be sent to the Marshall County Community Foundation with M7 Global Fund in the memo line. There will also be a community DI showcase night May 9 at Lincoln Jr. High School.
For more information on Destination ImagiNation�, visit their website at www.destinationimagination.org.
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