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Destination Imagination celebrate 2014 Global Finals with a couple of 'American Idols'

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Between May the 21st and the 24th, Destination Imagination will be celebrating Global Finals 2014, the world's largest creative thinking and problem solving competition for students. This year (which promises to be the biggest yet), a record setting 1414 teams, representing 41 states and 16 countries, will meet at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville to compete, and will be entertained by "America's Got Talent" finalist David Garibaldi and "American Idol" contestant Rachel Hale, who is herself DI alumna. Destination Imagination is a volunteer-led, non-profit organisation, which is dedicated to helping children discover and understand their own creative processes through STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), the arts and service learning challenges. The organisation was founded in 1982 and has thus far helped over 1.5 millions students discover their own creative sparks.

Participants will be entertained by "America's Got Talent" finalist David Garibaldi and "American Idol" contestant Rachel Hale

Throughout the four-day competition, the teams that qualified at state and country tournaments will be presenting their projects and competing in one of seven open-ended challenges. These challenges will require the teams to solve a problem using  science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) knowledge, improvisation, theatre arts, writing, project management, communication innovation, teamwork and community service. Chuck Cadle, the chief executive officer of Destination Imagination, Inc, is looking forward to seeing “The excitement of students using their reasoning, problem solving skills, courage to take a risk, and perseverance to solve their Challenge." He has said that DI are overjoyed to be giving participating students “A once in a lifetime experience where they learn skills in fun and interactive ways that will be used throughout their life."

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The celebration will kick off with a welcome ceremony on May the 21st, which will feature the performance painter and AGT finalist Garibaldi creating a painting to music, using his body as well as his brushes. DI alumna Hale, meanwhile, will sing the national anthem, in addition to hosting a series of songwriting workshops throughout the week, where participants will help her pen a song inspired by the organisation. There will also be a range hand-on science and technology attractions at the event. '3M Explore the Uncharted', is an experience in which teams journey through a simulated rainforest, solving challenges along the way. The Mayo Clinic meanwhile, will run the 'AVA Reset Council Challenge', in which participants will be asked to run the fictional city of Reset during a crisis using managerial skills to solve problems. There will also be an attraction from Vizitech USA, which will allow students to interact with projected 3D images, and a booth from the NASA Marshall Space Flight Centre, which will let students experience NASA activities such as taking a photo with a Mars rover. Other activities will include Luau, Passport Party, Scotch Duct Tape Playground, High School College Graduation and, of course, the Closing Celebration.

DI alumna Hale, will sing the national anthem, in addition to hosting a series of songwriting workshops throughout the week

Those unable to attend the Global Finals this year, will be able to view all of the excitement via an internet live stream of both the opening and closing ceremonies on DI-TV (sponsored by IBM). The internet streaming service will also be broadcasting throughout the week, giving users at home access to student reporter interviews,  footage from the tournament and Innovation Expo, information about upcoming events, sponsor and partner interviews, and educator interviews.

Official Destination Imagination Website

Official Global Finals Website

Benjamin Hiorns is a freelance writer and cynic from the UK. He struggles to think if there's a similar organisation to DI over here, and if not, he feels there probably should be.

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