At first glance, it looked like organized chaos with students laughing, whipped cream flying, and strawberry shortcakes coming together in a race against the clock. But behind the fun, the Roosevelt Elementary School “Glitter Girls” Destination Imagination team was sharpening the very skills that helped them become state champions.
Just days earlier, the team earned first place at the Destination Imagination State Tournament in Hillsboro on March 14, along with the prestigious Renaissance Award, the only one given across the entire competition. The award recognizes exceptional achievement in engineering, design, or performance, and for team manager Bill Patterson, it was a sign of what the group is capable of.
“They could do some damage at globals,” Patterson said. “But they’ve got to be serious between now and then.”
The Glitter Girls, Emma Fettinger, Addie Grenier, Lollie Hudson, Anya Kellermen, Irelyn Nelson, Laurel Riley, and Annabelle Ritzenthaler, will now advance to Global Finals in Kansas City this May where they will compete against top teams from around the world.
Destination Imagination (DI), as Patterson explained, is rooted in creativity and problem-solving. Students select a challenge at the beginning of the year, ranging from engineering to fine arts, and spend months developing a solution. They also compete in “instant challenges,” where teams must think quickly and collaborate under pressure.
“It’s all about reimagining a solution,” Patterson said. “You can do something perfectly, but if it’s not creative, it’s not going to win.”
That creativity was on full display during a team practice this past Thursday, where Patterson led the team through a lighthearted “instant challenge” to build and eat the best strawberry shortcake while leaving no trace behind. Though playful, the exercise mirrors the fast-paced, unpredictable nature of DI competitions.
Fellow team manager Kali Carter emphasized how much the students gain from the experience beyond competition results.
“They learn so much,” Carter said. “Not just teamwork, but real skills. My daughter (Lollie Hudson) wired an entire helmet with motion sensors and lights on her own. That’s not something most 10-year-olds can do.”
For the students, the state tournament was both nerve-wracking and unforgettable. Hudson, a fifth grader at Roosevelt, described the pressure of opening their performance.
“I was really nervous being the first one to talk in the whole skit,” Hudson said. “All the attention goes to me while everyone else is setting up.”
Hudson’s nerves quickly turned into excitement when the results were announced.
“Getting the Renaissance Award was great for us as they called our name again for first place,” Hudson said.
Riley said the moment was unlike anything she has experienced, especially after hearing about the global competition from Hudson, who is the only person to have competed in the global competition last year.
“I’ve never gone to globals,” Riley said. “So hearing about it, I’m just like, ‘What? That sounds amazing.’ We want to do our best there and practice as hard as Bill (Patterson) challenges us.”
The team credits its state success to creative risks and last-minute innovations, including a dynamic backdrop and unexpected storytelling elements which impressed judges.
As they prepare for the next stage, Patterson reminded the team that the jump from state to global competition is significant.
“There’s a big difference between state and globals … big,” Patterson said. “But if they keep improving, they’ve got a shot.”
Carter noted this year’s team chose to compete in the fine arts category, a shift from more technical challenges last year. Last year’s global event left a strong impression, particularly when international teams took the stage.
“All the teams last year got absolutely smoked by China,” Carter said. “The level of technology and resources some of those teams have, it really shows. They chose fine arts this year, and I think that plays to their strengths.”
While the global stage is challenging, it’s not unfamiliar territory for Klamath Falls City Schools.
According to Patterson, KFCS has had two top three finishers in the global competition, which came from Klamath Union High School (2006) and Ponderosa Middle School (2002).
“The Klamath Union team came together just days before regional competition and still managed to climb all the way to the global podium,” Patterson said. “We’ve also had teams finish fifth twice and eighth once at globals. They (Klamath Union’s third-place team) were just incredibly talented but that shows what’s possible.”
