Twenty-three Katy Independent School District Destination Imagination teams will head to the 2021 Lone Star Finals DI Tournament to be held virtually throughout the month of March.  In addition, four Katy ISD senior students received the Gulf Coast DI scholarship of $600.

This year due to restrictions, students were challenged to work in teams of up to seven members and submit their solutions in a digital format.  Podcasts, documentaries, video games, music videos and video clips showcased their work over the past few months.

"Aside from working on their team challenge, each student team had 48 hours to work together from remote locations to solve an Instant Challenge," said Joan Otten, Director of Gifted & Talented/Advanced Academics Department. 

The following teams will represent Katy ISD at the state tournament:

• Alexander Elementary – Turtles from Salsa Lake
• Beckendorff Junior High – Intergalactic Watermelons
• Beckendorff Junior High – Flaw Law Fools
• Bryant Elementary – Paws of Katy
• Beck Junior High – Glitter Chickens
• Beck Junior High – The Senate
• Beck Junior High – FDIs
• Cinco Ranch Junior High – The Pacers
• Exley Elementary – DinoMite
• Hayes Elementary – Lights, Challenges, Action!
• Davidson Elementary – Seven Crystal Gazers
• Katy High School – Chicks with Kicks
• Griffin Elementary – Five Leafed Clovers
• Morton Ranch Junior High – The Nerd Herd
• Pattison Elementary – Smart Skittles
• Seven Lakes Junior High – The Ultimate Knights
• Seven Lakes High School – Twenty Eight Eyes
• Seven Lakes High School – 24/7 Silly 6.0
• Seven Lakes High School & Katy High School – Unscripted
• Seven Lakes High School & Tompkins High School - iSmart
• Seven Lakes High School & Beckendorff Junior High – Houston We Have a Problem
• Tompkins High School – Mystical Pears
• WoodCreek Junior High – Fire Breathing Torpedoing Chickens

Scholarship Winners:

• Elizabeth O'Rear – Seven Lake High School
• Daniela Ramos – Seven Lakes High School
• Grace Lyons – Seven Lakes High School
• Ayushi Sapru – Tompkins High School

Destination Imagination is a world-wide creative problem-solving organization that teaches students the skills needed to succeed in school, career and beyond.  Students use the creative process to turn their ideas into reality and learn valuable skills such as creative and critical thinking, team building, problem-solving and project management. 

"To see 23 Katy ISD teams headed to the state level is a true inspiration.  These types of tournaments motivate and equip our students to become the next generation of innovators and leaders," said Otten.