A group of Powell River students is heading to Knoxville, Tennessee to compete in the Destination Imagination Global Finals in May.
The team competed in the provincial event, Scientific Challenge: Going to Extremes, in April and placed first out of 10. By winning the event, Les Demons Explosifs team members Ethan Taylor, Raffi Reghelin, Elly Dimond, Emily Ellis, Aubrey Sharp and Inti Bergeron earned the right of vying for top spot among other winners from across North America.
Destination Imagination is a non-profit volunteer-led educational organization that gives students the chance to learn and experience the creative process from imagination to innovation. “The students are from École Côte du soleil,” said event promoter Amy Sharp. “They started out last year with two additional members, Grace Gaudreau and Inti Bergeron. Natalie Kreter has been a tremendous guide as their team manager.”
The group began devising their performance for the Scientific Challenge last September. They were required to research and develop around a specific aspect of science, a production that often requires some prop and costume design, which the students do themselves.
After an initial competition March 11, at Westview Elementary School, the team was invited to the provincials in Richmond that took place on April 12. This is “a big improvement from placing fourth out of eight teams last year,” Lynn Ellis, mother of Emily, said after the competition.
“After the win, the team found out that in a mere five weeks, they are going to Knoxville, Tennessee to perform along with 8,000 other kids from 15 countries,” Sharp explained. “The event takes place on campus at the University of Knoxville. There will be some 15,000 people in attendance.”
This fast-approaching date has parents of the students working furiously on fundraising. Sharp said that the fundraising goal of $15,000 will cover travel and expenses.
Anyone wishing to help can visit the “Powell River DI Team: Knoxville, here we come!” Facebook page. The page contains a list of ongoing fundraising events, an online link for donations, contact information, photos and relevant event listings, dates and times.
