Levelland Destination Imagination performed exceptionally at the Northwest Plains Regional Tournament earlier this month. Eighteen teams from LISD competed against 97 DI teams from around the region. DI team members range from the age of 5 to 18. Three LISD teams are advancing to the state competition at UT Arlington on March 25th. 'Levelland ISD Destination Imagination enables students to become outside-ofthe- box thinkers. Our former DI students work in medicine, research, and law, and one has created a nonprofit organization.
These amazing citizens credit the skills learned in DI as helping them excel in their careers. I am extremely proud that our district has avidly supported this great program for more than seventeen years,' explained Merribeth Gregory, LISD DI Coordinator. The DI Improv challenge for this year required the students to create a skit about an underdog preparing for and competing in a competition with the help of an expert. Halfway through the skit, the team picked up a complication that changed the outcome of the skit. The team enhanced their skit with trash bags and rubber bands as props. The LISD improvisational acting teams excelled at the regional tournament, with one advancing to the state tournament and one awaiting a possible wildcard entry into the state tournament. 'Improv is a difficult skill to learn and requires just the right kids, who enjoy each other's company to be a successful acting troupe. We have worked to establish depth to our improv program by having the competition available for each age group,' explained Debra Burnett. LHS' Improv team, Chitin Cittens, was coached by Merribeth Gregory, Debra Burnett, and Miley Hodge. They placed 1st in high school level and will advance to state. 'Laci White, Laynee Newberry, Georgia McMahan, and Trinity Wafer have been competing in the improv competition for the past six years, but this is the first time they have all been on the same team. This group is witty and provides us with endless laughs' said Merribeth Gregory. LMS' Improv team, Majestic Monkeys, is coached by Patricia Johnson and Merribeth Henry-Gregory, placed second in the middle level, and awaited a possible wildcard invite to the state tournament. Team members are Jaxie Salinas, Tobias Gavina, Javier Ruiz, Karsyn Gaona, and Allegra Gavina. 'Jaxie led off their skit with an amazing accent, which she maintained throughout the skit, and was awarded a personal DaVinci Award for her accent. Their improv performance put them in first place, but their instant challenge knocked them down to second place,' explained Debra Burnett. LIS' Improv team, Purple Doritos, coached by Terri White and Tiffany Harkins, placed third in the competition. The team members are Colton Buxkemper, Reese Lopez, Uriah Martinez, Briley Diaz, Grayson Gibbs, and Kason Birdwell.
Capitol Elementary's Improv team, Junior Barking Breakfast Bananas, coached by Barbara Utley, placed fifth in the competition. The team members are Ian Tucek, Hayes Howard, Mason Swain, Joey Wheeler, Kylie Creager, Emilee Arriaga, and Lizzie Palmer. Lorena Sanchez, Merribeth Gregory, and Debra Burnett coach the high school Engineering Team. The team created a 3-D puzzle that was assembled during the skit. The team placed first and will advance to state. Team members are Michelle Bustillos, Yaira Acevedo, Max Chapa, Ada Neiderhauser, and Jadyn Gamez. 'The engineering team's musical background gave them the perfect team choice element of creating original music. They also upcycled prom dresses into new costumes,' said Debra Burnett. 'The 3-D puzzle was incredibly hard and required so much trial and error and was finished two days before competition.' The Fine Arts Team from Capitol Elementary, DJ Blanz Crew, coached by Pam Alexander, placed fifth in the competition with an altered version of Three Billy Goats Gruff. The team members are Braxton Bray, Zachariah Castillo, Aiden Davenport, Jazzi Lawson, Lexi Olivo, Dylan Slape, and Nolan Valderas. The LIS Fine Arts Team, Sparkling Sisters, coached by Vanessa Birdwell, placed eleventh ith their altered version of Princess and the Pea. Team members included Hattie Neiderhauser, Roxie Hall, Jael Gamez, Jazzmin Rodriguez, Carley Gonzalez, and Paulina Chavira. The LMS Scientific Team Green Eyes, coached by Kathryn Shepherd, placed first in Instant Challenge & Da Vinci Award and first in the competition. They will advance to the state tournament. Jessi Slape, Faith Pritchard, Hope Pritchard, Elena Guajardo, and Ashlyn Baiza are team members. 'This amazing group of girls created a skit about how global warming altered the color of a polar bear and enhanced the skit with a moving waterfall and used technological innovation to create a polar bear that changed colors,' said Debra Burnett. Katie Pena coached the LIS Scientific Team Dreamy Blobfish. They placed first in Instant Challenge and fifth in Main Challenge. The team members are Olivia Ramirez, Emma Pena, Chloe Luna, Grayson Noland, Aaron Cook, and Anna Wheeler. LMS' Roller Coaster Engineering Team, coached by Missy Passmore, placed third. Team members include Seren Zapata, Cuylee Anderson, Hailey Downing, Sohpia Koubek, Isabel Canales, and Katelyn Mendoza. South Elementary's One Peace, coached by Jessica Mortimer, competed in the Roller Coaster Engineering Challenge and placed first in Instant Challenge. Team members are Zachariah Malanche, Jazmin Marrufo, Madalyn Torres, Bobbie Jo, Mykka Cox, Faith Chapa, and Alli Montemayor. Five Rising Star teams from South, ABC, and Capitol competed and were coached by Alexis Gavina, Dellonie Moore, Melissa Cantu, Brandi Zepeda, Lucy Voller, and Michaela Bautista, with students ranging from kindergarten to second grade. They created skits about friends going on an adventure and finding a musical friend. Alexis Gavina and Dellonie Moore's PJammers team of Samantha Garza, Rocky Garza, Kassidy Rodriguez, Peyton Alvarez, Kulson Salinas, Palmer Foster, and Aviana Villarreal received a Spirit of DI Award for their musical solution to the challenge. 'Rising Stars allows our team members to test their hands at various engineering, researching, and acting skills and explore the DI program,' explained Merribeth Gregory. 'We love to see the variety of skills our kids learn each year.' LISD is always thankful for this excellent DI Program that offers so many learning skills to our students. Thank you to Mrs. Gregory and all the DI Coaches for the extra time you put in to make DI great! (Story courtesy Merribeth Gregory) #ExpectExcellence #LevellandISD