Press Release: 03-07-2012

Four student teams from Waukegan Community Unit School District No. 60 will compete in the Destination ImagiNation (DI) State Finals, after putting up solid results at a recent regional competition.

A team representing Waukegan High School took first place in its category during the Destination ImagiNation Far North Region tournament at Waukegan’s Miguel Juarez Middle School, while three teams form Jefferson placed second or third, and also advanced to the state finals. The tournament, which was held on March 3, attracted dozens of teams from the region, each competing for a chance to qualify for the finals at Northern Illinois University on April 14. Four of Waukegan’s seven student teams placed high enough to advance to the tournament.

Destination ImagiNation is a creative team competition that encourages students to use critical thinking and teamwork to solve complex problems and challenges in science, fine arts, and technical categories. Teams compete in one of six categories: Assembly Required, The Solar Stage, Coming Attractions, New to Me, Hold It!, Built to Last and The World Canvas. Waukegan teams to qualify for the state competition are listed below.

Challenge Accepted, Waukegan High School – 1st place, Coming Attractions, Secondary Level. Team members include: Gerardo Gordillo, Justin Farias, Evan Lyons, Chelsy Moreno, Theresa Edwards, and McKenna Lyons.

Hi Mom!, Jefferson Middle School – 2nd Place, The Solar Stage, Middle Level. Team members include: Kyra Lyons, Carla Aldana, Jasmine Gloria, Alaysha Pratt, and Liliana Leguizamo.

Awkward Silence, Jefferson Middle School – 3rd Place, Assembly Required, Middle Level. Team Members Include: Bronte Beaudoin, Jackie Carlson, Abigail Crombie, Nestor Padilla, Michael Rodriguez, Ella Spencer and B.J. Zamble.

James and the JuJu Bees, Jefferson Middle School – 3rd place, News To Me, Middle Level. Team members include: Diana Dick, Brett Eikenberry, Matthew Fallon, Jessica Farias, Angelina Jose, James Lopez and Frankie Parades.

Teams that place in the top two at the State Finals will advance to the Destination ImagiNation Global Finals in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Email Contact: nalajakis@wps60.org

Members of Challenge Accepted at the March 3 competition.