Sage Students Advance to Global Finals

Students from Sage Community School advance to Destination Imagination's Global Finals in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Submitted Photo)

The Labyrinth Method Lunatics AND Cherish on Impulse from Sage Community School Advance to Destination Imagination's Global Finals, the Largest Celebration of Creativity in the World

Chiloquin, Ore. – It’s official! Sage Community School is sending two of the eleven Oregon teams to compete in Destination Imagination’s Global Finals. After achieving first place in their division for creativity, teamwork and innovation in regional and state academic tournaments, the Labyrinth Method Lunatics from Sage Community School received their invitation on April 7, 2018 to compete in Destination Imagination's Global Finals, the world’s largest celebration of student creativity, to be held May 23-26 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Sage Community School’s second team, Cherish on Impulse, achieved second place in their division and were chosen in a national lottery on April 19, 2018 to also attend Global Finals.

The Labyrinth Method Lunatics will compete with other teams in the Maze Craze, and Cherish on Impulse will compete with other teams in the Treasure! Challenge. These are two of seven, open-ended Challenges that require students to apply science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills, in addition to their talents in improvisation, theater arts, writing, project management, communication, innovation, teamwork, community service and social entrepreneurship.

“This is a wonderful opportunity and the first time that Sage Community School has the opportunity to send a team to Global Finals after all these years,” said Sage Community School Director, Anna Fowler. “It is such a tremendous honor for any school to be able to send a team to Global Finals, but for a small rural school like ours with an enrollment of 60-70 students to have two teams chosen for Global Finals, is a testament to the work ethic of these kids, the dedication of team managers Donna King and Terra Whitlock, and the fantastic support of their families. We are actively trying to raise the needed funds and anyone wanting to donate please look for links at our website http://www.SageCommunitySchool.org,” Both teams must raise a combined total of $20,000.

Cherish on Impulse’s team members include Summer Buckingham (10), Sydney Fowler (12), Zoe Johnson (12), and Chris Lo (12). The Labyrinth Method Lunatics team members include

Rhiannon Burkhart (11), Willow Daniels (11), Kaitlynn Milano (10) and Caleb Swanson-Utley (11).

Sage Community School has sponsored teams for their Destination Imagination After-School club for the past 7 years. This year, Sage received a grant from Klamath County Cultural Coalition for both teams to attend the regional and state affiliate tournaments.

"Destination Imagination GLOBALS! The Olympics of Creative Minds!” said Donna King, Team Manager and 5/6 grade teacher at Sage. “We are thrilled to be a part of this rare opportunity to represent the State of Oregon, U.S.A. To see my students being recognized and praised globally is not only rewarding for them, but for me as well! Watch out world, here comes Sage Community School!"

“It is such a joy watching these students challenge themselves,” said Terra Whitlock, Team Manager and 6/7/8 grade teacher at Sage. “They’re learning so many valuable lessons about collaboration and creativity. I’m really proud and so excited to take them to Global Finals!”

Destination Imagination (DI) has had a positive impact on more than two million students who have taken part in its acclaimed academic program. This year, more than 150,000 students have participated in tournaments throughout the U.S., as well as 30 countries, in hopes of earning a spot at the Global Finals competition in May.

“Going to Global Finals means a lot because there are eleven teams from Oregon and two of them are from Sage,” shared Summer Buckingham. “My sisters and I have always been involved in DI. They have wanted to go, but now I get to go.”

“It’s always been my dream to go to global finals and finally I can,” said Sydney Fowler. I’m so excited to represent Sage at Global Finals.”

The Labyrinth Method Lunatics and Cherish on Impulse from Sage Community School are among the 8,000 students representing more than 1,400 teams that have advanced to participate in Global Finals 2018.

“Going to Global Finals is a once in a lifetime chance for me,” said Chris Lo. “We get to show the world what we can do!”

“This is my first year in DI,” shared Zoe Johnson. “It’s so exciting that we are going to Tennessee. This means the world to me!”

Destination Imagination is a leader in project-based learning opportunities that blend STEM education with the arts and social entrepreneurship. Its academic Challenges are student- directed and are designed to teach kids how to think, not what to think. Teams who participate have the opportunity to present their solutions at regional and state tournaments.

"I am very grateful to be going to Globals. I’m sure it’s going to be an amazing, awesome and exciting experience. I hope me and my team enjoy it," said Rhiannon Burkhart.

“I am really excited and honored to go to Globals! I think my whole team is ready to go, because we did very well at the Affiliates,” added Willow Daniels.

Each year, DI competitions begin with a regional tournament, where team solutions are assessed by a panel of trained Appraisers, ranging from educators to artists to engineers. Each team solution is scored on a variety of elements, including originality, workmanship, presentation and teamwork. Teams with the highest scores advance to the Affiliate Oregon Tournaments. The top-tiered teams from the Affiliate Tournaments advance to Global Finals.

“I’m excited! I cannot believe we made it!  It will be so much fun in Tennessee, especially since I was born there. I can’t wait to see fresh, beautiful Tennessee again,” said Kaitlynn Milano.

“I am both amazed and surprised to be going to a very big and special place. This will be fun,” added Caleb Swanson-Utley.

Destination Imagination dedicates itself to enriching the global community by providing opportunities for learners of all ages to explore and discover using the creative process from imagination to innovation.

For more information about Global Finals, visit http://globalfinals.org/.