Katy ISD announced June 3 that a record number of teams – 16 in total – represented the District at the Destination Imagination 2024 Global Finals, held May 22-25 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Teams earned six of the competition’s top spots across the three levels of competition and were ranked among the world’s most creative students.

Team T-R. EX from Beckendorff Junior High was also awarded the Renaissance Award for demonstrating outstanding skill in design, engineering, execution and performance for their life-like dinosaur creatures, spacecraft and waterfall feature as part of their Engineering Challenge.

“We are so proud of the work of our Destination Imagination teams in this year’s competition for their hard work and creativity,” said Joan Otten, Director of Gifted and Talented & Advanced Academic Studies. “It is gratifying to know that our students continue to display their innovation, talent and imagination, particularly representing the district in international competition.”

Destination Imagination celebrates K-12 students’ creativity and innovation, providing students with the opportunity to display their talents and gifts in team competition. Students use their ingenuity, along with acquired skills, to answer unique learning challenges.

This year’s challenges were:

· Technical Challenge prompted students to use principles of engineering, research, strategic planning and related skills to design, build and operate a pinball system

· Engineering Challenge asked students to use engineering skills and tools to design and build a modular device that could accurately launch bean bags

· Scientific Challenge tasked students with creating and presenting a historical vignette that included the discovery of an archaeological artifact

· Fine Arts Challenge asked students to bring a piece of visual art to life, reimagining the work as performance and kinetic art

· Improvisational Challenge prompted students to create and present a 2-act improvisational skit

· Service Learning engaged students in public service to identify, design, execute and evaluate a project to address a community need

Katy ISD teams that participated in the 2024 Global Finals:

Campus Team Name Challenge Global Ranking

Beckendorff Junior

High Team T-R. EX Engineering – Going the Distance (Middle) 3

Beck, McMeans and

WoodCreek Junior

Highs & Exley

Elementary Team DInoMite! Scientific – Blast from the Past (Middle) 3

McMeans Junior High 5 to Infinity Fine Arts – In Motion (Middle) 4

Seven Lakes High

School “Houston We Have a Problem” Scientific – Blast from the Past (Secondary) 4

Alexander Elementary Phoenix 5 Engineering – Going the Distance (Elementary) 5

Seven Lakes and Jordan

High Schools The Ultimate Knights Engineering – Going the Distance (Secondary) 5

McMeans Junior High Industrialists Technical – Pinball Heroes (Middle) 6

Tompkins High School Epic Failiers Service Learning – Uncharted (Secondary) 12

Davidson Elementary Mission Impossible Dragons Engineering – Going the Distance (Elementary) 16

Cinco Ranch High

School Two-Toed Dinos Fine Arts – In Motion (Secondary) 17

Wilson Elementary The Talented Tribe Service Learning – Uncharted (Elementary) 17 (Tie)

Alexander Elementary Blooming Blossoms Service Learning – Uncharted (Elementary) 17 (Tie)

McMeans Junior High SKAMM’D Fine Arts – In Motion (Middle) 19

Nottingham Country

Elementary Chocolate Fudge Cookies Fine Arts – In Motion (Elementary) 19

Alexander Elementary Bright Lights Fine Arts – In Motion (Elementary) 24

Memorial Parkway

Elementary The Candy Nerds Improvisation – So Extra (Elementary) 27