CMS students raising funds for global contest

Friday, April 24, 2015
Submitted Photo Cloverdale Middle School's Destination Imagination team is heading to the global competition in a few weeks, but in order to make it there the students have to raise $7,000. The team consists of sixth-graders Phoebe McDonald, Michaela Nees, Kiara Boyd, Autumn Lewellen, Lily Monnett, Sadie Priest, and Ruthie Mann.

Six Cloverdale Middle School student are raising funds to participate in a worldwide competition focused on creativity.

The CMS Wild Clovers Destination Imagination (DI) team came in first place at the state competition April 20 and will be trying their hand for a second time at the Destination Imagination Global Finals at the University of Tennessee starting May 20.

In order to make it to the competition, the students need to raise about $7,000 by the beginning of May. With the deadline quickly approaching, the team is asking for the community's support.

So far, the students have raised some of the funds through school dances and a post-ISTEP dodge ball and movie pass for students. Teachers are participating in "Denim for DI", in which teachers are paying to wear jeans to school.

The group is also using the crowd-sourcing website www.gofundme.com, by searching for the Wild Clovers Global Contest. Donations can be dropped off or mailed to Cloverdale Middle School, attention: Destination Imagination, 312 E. Logan St., Cloverdale, Ind. 46120.

There will also be a bake sale at the Mill Grove Store just south of Cloverdale on U.S. 231 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 2.

The team consists of Cloverdale Middle School sixth-graders Phoebe McDonald, Michaela Nees, Kiara Boyd, Autumn Lewellen, Lily Monnett, Sadie Priest, and Ruthie Mann, with coaches Jennifer Mann and Susi Jordan.

DI coach Jennifer Mann explained Imagination Destination consists of training and events focus on establishing creativity in youth through a series of problem-solving challenges. Each group focuses on a type of challenge, which ranges from science to technology to improvisational skills.

The group of six Wild Clovers have been working together for four years, starting with a focus on building challenges and did not fair too well in the Indiana Destination Imagination contests.

"Last year we chose the improv challenge, and went to the global competition. The girls are good at acting, so we found our niche," Mann said.

The students are given four areas of focus for their skit, including a theme, street performance style, a situation and a setting.

The group's GoFundMe account has a video showing the performance of the six girls given one minute to prepare for a skit with a news cast theme and incorporate a Doo Wop street performance. The situation involved pink cotton candy clouds in a swamp crowded with tourists.

In the one minute the students have to prepare, all six provide input to make the two-minute performance a success.

In their first time pursuing the improvisation challenge, the students took first in the local competition and placed 16th out of 68 teams.

This year, the students once again topped the local contest at Hamilton Southeastern School District in Fishers, and have high goals as they go to compete with students from around the world once again.

"This year we are shooting for the top 10," Mann said.

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