Three Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) Destination Imagination (DI) teams advance to the global finals in May after earning a first-place win at the state tournament held March 15 at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). To compete at the state event, teams must place among the top four competing teams in their respective challenge area at a regional competition. The regional DI event was held last month with more than 350 students participating.

The CCPS teams advancing on to globals include the Billingsley Imaginators team from Billingsley Elementary School; the Somers Curbside Chickens team from Milton M. Somers Middle School; and the Picco Pioneers of the PBJ Planet team from Piccowaxen Middle School. The Global Finals Tournament is set for May 22-26 in Kansas City, Mo.

A total of 32 Charles County teams competed at the state tournament on March 15 in one of six complex Team Challenge solutions, demonstrating problem-solving, teamwork and critical-thinking skills. Student teams compete in challenge areas such as technical, scientific, fine arts, improvisational, engineering and service-learning fields.

At DI tournaments, teams will solve one Instant Challenge in addition to presenting their Team Challenge solution. However, unlike a Team Challenge, where teams have months to prepare, plan, and create their solution, teams have just minutes to solve an Instant Challenge.

The Picco Pioneers of the PBJ Planet team was recognized for earning the highest Instant Challenge score of 100 points out of a possible 100 points among competing middle-level teams in their respective challenge area.

The North Point High School Third Try’s the Charm team was recognized for earning the highest Instant Challenge score of 100 points out of a possible 100 points among competing secondary-level teams in their respective challenge area.

At the state tournament awards ceremony, Henry E. Lackey High School senior Austin Keys was awarded a Maryland DI scholarship in recognition of his participation in the program for the past several years.

The following Charles County teams placed at the state tournament.

Breaking Point (technical) 

Elementary level

• Billingsley, Billingsley Believers, eighth place.
• Malcolm Elementary School, Malcolm Tech Monkeys, ninth place.
• J.P. Ryon Elementary School, Ryon Amazing Cardinals, 10^th place.

Worlds Beyond (scientific) 

Elementary level

• St. Mary’s Bryantown School, SMB Space Explorers, fourth place.
• C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School, Barnhart Science Solar Surprise, eighth place.
• Arthur Middleton Elementary School, Middleton Supreme Masters, 10^th place.
• William A. Diggs Elementary School, Diggs Mighty Scientists, 11^th place.

Middle level

• Piccowaxen, Picco Pioneers of the PBJ Planet, first place.
• Somers, Somers SuperStars, sixth place.
• Benjamin Stoddert Middle School, Stoddert Solarists, seventh place.

Secondary level

• North Point High School, NPHS Third Try’s the Charm, second place.

Less is More (fine arts)

Elementary level

• St. Mary’s Bryantown, SMB Dream Team, fifth place.
• Diggs, Diggs Black Panthers, sixth place.
• Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary School, Mt. Hope Wild Ones, seventh place.
• Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School, Higdon Dino Nuggies, ninth place.

Middle level

• Matthew Henson Middle School, MHMS Huskies, tie for fifth place.

Are We There Yet? (improv)

Elementary level

• Billingsley, Billingsley Imaginators, first place.
• Mary B. Neal Elementary School, Neal Travelers, tie for second place.
• T.C. Martin Elementary School, Martin Chaos Makers, tie for fourth place.
• Barnhart, Barnhart Ace of Hearts, fifth place.
• Martin, Martin Performing Ligers, sixth place.

Middle level

• St. Mary’s Bryantown, SMB Wildfires, fourth place.

Secondary level

• Lackey, Lackey Lollipops, third place.

High-Wire Act (engineering)

Elementary level

• St. Mary’s Bryantown, SMB Rise of the Screams, third place.
• Dr. James Craik Elementary School, Craik Built Different, fourth place.
• Craik, Craik Fortune, seventh place.
• Gale-Bailey Elementary School, Gale-Bailey Challengers, 10^th place.

Middle level

• Theodore G. Davis Middle School, Davis Innovators, sixth place.

This or That? (service learning)

Elementary level

• Craik, Craik Cracklers, second place.
• Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy, Mt. Hope Ninja Beavers, third place.

Middle level

• Somers, Somers Curbside Chickens, first place.

To learn more about DI, visit https://www.marylanddi.org/.

About CCPS

Charles County Public Schools provides 28,162 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 38 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.

The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Dr. Mike Blanchard, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event. CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).