Triton Team Headed To Global Competition In Destination ImagiNation

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer-

A Triton High School Destination ImagiNation team is in Nashville, Tenn., this week to participate in the academic challenge program's global competition.

Coached by Lisa Eiser, this year's regional- and state-award winning group includes Cole and Tom Eiser, sons of Mike and Lisa Eiser, Bourbon; Josh Burkholder, son of Howard and Shirlene Burkholder, Etna Green; Jennifer Strycker, daughter of Jim and Cathy Strycker, Tippecanoe; Tommy Devros, son of Thomas and Loraine Devros, Tippecanoe; and Chrissi Schaetzle, daughter of Andy and Suzi Schaetzle, Bourbon.

The Triton team is school sponsored, although not all Destination ImagiNation teams are supported by a school district.

Students around the world participate in the competitive problem-solving tournaments where creative solutions earn top points.

Triton fielded two high school teams and one middle school team this year.

The teams choose one of five team challenges, which incorporate a variety of academic disciplines. The teams score points by meeting proscribed requirements.

"The skit is eight minutes long," said Tom Eiser. "You have to pack in everything required in '200 pages' of instruction."

The team picked this year's Challenge C: "How'd that Happen?" which asks the group to research a problem and build a play around how donning a hat transfoms the wearer.

During the study the group fell upon the Damileke tribe of Cameroon, Africa. The 'fon' or spiritual leader puts on a hat and takes on the characteristics of a leopard.

"Everyone participates," said Cole Eiser of his teammates. "I wrote the script but everyone added to it. There's not anyone person doing it all."

Their miniplay is complete with costumes, set design, complex props and a slide show outlining their research.

Cole Eiser, a junior, has been to the global level six times. His brother, Tom, an eighth grader, has been involved in Destination ImagiNation since he was in first grade. This is his fourth trip to the globals.

The other team members are ninth graders. Burkholder has participated on DI teams for three years. This is his first national competition.

Strycker has been a DI member for two years.

The team will be judged Saturday. [[In-content Ad]]

A Triton High School Destination ImagiNation team is in Nashville, Tenn., this week to participate in the academic challenge program's global competition.

Coached by Lisa Eiser, this year's regional- and state-award winning group includes Cole and Tom Eiser, sons of Mike and Lisa Eiser, Bourbon; Josh Burkholder, son of Howard and Shirlene Burkholder, Etna Green; Jennifer Strycker, daughter of Jim and Cathy Strycker, Tippecanoe; Tommy Devros, son of Thomas and Loraine Devros, Tippecanoe; and Chrissi Schaetzle, daughter of Andy and Suzi Schaetzle, Bourbon.

The Triton team is school sponsored, although not all Destination ImagiNation teams are supported by a school district.

Students around the world participate in the competitive problem-solving tournaments where creative solutions earn top points.

Triton fielded two high school teams and one middle school team this year.

The teams choose one of five team challenges, which incorporate a variety of academic disciplines. The teams score points by meeting proscribed requirements.

"The skit is eight minutes long," said Tom Eiser. "You have to pack in everything required in '200 pages' of instruction."

The team picked this year's Challenge C: "How'd that Happen?" which asks the group to research a problem and build a play around how donning a hat transfoms the wearer.

During the study the group fell upon the Damileke tribe of Cameroon, Africa. The 'fon' or spiritual leader puts on a hat and takes on the characteristics of a leopard.

"Everyone participates," said Cole Eiser of his teammates. "I wrote the script but everyone added to it. There's not anyone person doing it all."

Their miniplay is complete with costumes, set design, complex props and a slide show outlining their research.

Cole Eiser, a junior, has been to the global level six times. His brother, Tom, an eighth grader, has been involved in Destination ImagiNation since he was in first grade. This is his fourth trip to the globals.

The other team members are ninth graders. Burkholder has participated on DI teams for three years. This is his first national competition.

Strycker has been a DI member for two years.

The team will be judged Saturday. [[In-content Ad]]

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