Pacelli Catholic Schools Send 8 Teams to State Destination Imagination Finals; Two Qualify for Global Championships in Knoxville

For the City Times

For the first time ever,  Pacelli Catholic Schools qualified eight teams to participate in the Destination Imagination state championships, held on the UW-Stevens Point campus on Saturday, April 16.  

The state competition followed regional competitions held throughout the state earlier this year.

“This level of success on a state-wide level is rare.  It is unprecedented, as far as we know,” said Gregg Hansel, Director of Education for Pacelli Catholic Schools.  “We are proud about what this success on a state level says about our students’ engagement in extracurricular activities that directly impact classroom and life-long successes. The students, of course, would be quick to acknowledge the year-long commitment of their teachers, coaches and mentors who facilitate such success.”

Two Pacelli High School teams fared particularly well at state competition. Team Alpha and Omega and Team Omikron placed first and second, respectively, in the high school improvisation category.  Each team will now be advancing to global competition, to be held in Knoxville, Tenn. May 25 through May 28.

“We are excited and extremely proud of our students, their volunteer team coaches, and the parents and families for the success of these teams at the state DI championships,” said Pacelli Middle School Principal Ellen Lopas.  “The DI program is an excellent complement to the academic instruction that students receive as part of the standard curriculum.”

“The high school students on the two teams going to globals are dedicated, talented and highly creative in problem-solving and working with their peers,” said long-time Pacelli DI coach Anne Rogalski, noting that the experience at globals is exhilarating for students, coaches, and family members who are able to attend. “The students make friends with other students from across the world at the global competition, often for life.” 

Destination Imagination is an academic program for public and private schools that encourages teams of students to take risks, and to focus and frame specific academic challenges while at the same time incorporating science, technology, engineering, and mathematics principles, the arts, and service learning criteria. DI participants learn patience, flexibility, persistence, ethics, respect for others and their ideas, and the collaborative problem solving process.

The cost of sending each student to Globals is $1,250, which is not covered by tuition or other fees. The group is holding a fundraiser event on May 15 at Pacelli High School. 

“The Stevens Point community will see several opportunities over the next several weeks to help support the students, most notably an all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner and one-night-only improvisational comedy show set for May 15,” Mitch said.

Those interested in making a tax-deductible contribution to support the students’travel to DI globals in Knoxville may write a check to “Pacelli High School–DI” in care of Pacelli High School, or contact Pacelli High School at 715.341.2442.