District 70 teams part of global contest

Three Libertyville Elementary District 70 teams involved in an international problem-solving program will compete on the global level — the highest level possible — in May.

Destination Imagination challenges students in problem-solving techniques. This year, students from Adler Park, Butterfield and Highland had teams competing in the state and regional competitions.

Recently, three of the four teams placed in the first and second slots on the state level, which propels them to the global competition May 23-26 at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn.

The sponsors for all the District 70 teams this year are teachers Karen McLean and Ashley Zeinz.

The following teams will compete on the global level.

Two teams ranked in first place at the state competition. They include:

Ÿ Highland Middle School's “That Team Over There” team competed in the “Assembly Required” challenge, where teams designed and built equipment that retrieved parts and delivered assembled products made to order, all to a special story. Highland team members are Elias Anderson, Mitry Anderson, Alex Dikelsky, Jacob Dikelsky, Andy Liu, Annika McDermott-Hinman and Adam Sparks. The manager is Greg Sparks.

Ÿ Butterfield School's “1, 2, 3 Not It” team also did “Assembly Required.” Team members of the all-female group include Emma Chandler, Jillian Cote, Hannah Hartshorne, Alyssa Kline and Erin Leese. Team managers are Elizabeth and Doug Chandler.

Ÿ A second-place award went to Adler Park School team “Gator Warriors,” which performed the challenge “News to Me,” where students performed a skit about the cause-and-effect relationship between two unrelated news stories, then have all the plans suddenly become discombobulated by a one-minute glitch. Members include Annika Bjorklund, Abigail Cima, Maddy Jacobs and Ellie Seyl. The team manager is Eric Cima.

The fourth team competing on the state level, Butterfield School's “One Small Step For Kids, One Giant Leap For DI” team, placed fourth, just out of reach of the global competition.

The team performed the “Coming Attraction” challenge, where it presented a movie trailer involving characters from at least two nations and featured an original soundtrack. Team members are Jake Duffy, Tate Constable, Milica Lukic, Allison McLean, Scott Patterson and Jonathon Timm. The managers are Dan Timm and Fred Duffy.