THE YEAR
DESTINATION IMAGINATION
Destination Imagination is a global nonprofit dedicated to inspiring the next generation of leaders, innovators and creative problem solvers.
Today’s students will enter the workforce during a dynamic period in the global economy as advancements in science and technology disrupt nearly every industry, These future leaders will need to embody 21st century skills like collaboration, creativity and flexibility. At Destination Imagination, we design affordable project-based learning experiences that focus on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) and help set students acquire the 21st century skills needed to thrive in school, careers and beyond.
More than 150,000 students worldwide participate in Destination Imagination programs. With your support, we can inspire and empower even more students across the globe who will help build a brighter future through teamwork, creativity and innovation.
Thanks to our passionate, global network of volunteers, thousands of students from the U.S. and 30-plus countries had the opportunity to participate in the Destination Imagination Challenge Experience.
46 US STATES
25 staff members
34 countries
35,000 volunteers
15,455 Teams
81,912 Participants
WELCOME TO OUR NEW AFFILIATES
Team Counts by Country
Technical Challenge
Teams were tasked with building a technical device that could navigate a tournament-provided maze.
Scientific Challenge
Teams created their own amusement park attraction that operated using at least three different scientific concepts.
Fine Arts Challenge
Teams created a two-act musical, including a set change that used technical methods.
Improvisational Challenge
Teams had to create a skit on-the-spot that incorporated two explorers who work together to return a cultural treasure to its rightful owner.
Engineering Challenge
Teams were tasked with building a structure from a specific set of materials that could withstand impacts from dropped weights.
Service Learning Challenge
Teams addressed a real community need and presented the impact of their project.
Early Learning Challenge
Teams explored different cultures and presented a story about how two different cultures are the same and different.
Our 2018 Graduate of the Year
This past year, 18-year-old Myra Richardson was named our 2018 DI Graduate of the Year. Richardson began her DI journey in the fifth grade and through this journey, she learned problem solving, team building, designing, engineering, creative thinking and perseverance.
Future Workforce Networking Event
Held at Global Finals 2018, our second annual Future Workforce Networking Event was an opportunity for high school and college students to hear from a dynamic panel of representatives from different industries, ranging from the arts to aerospace. Afterward, students had the opportunity to practice their new networking skills with their peers.
Exhibitors Inspire Innovation
At the Global Finals 2018 Innovation Expo, attendees had the opportunity to discover the best of what our exhibitors have to offer. This past year’s Expo included hands-on activities from NASA, Space Camp, Oracle Academy, Motorola Solutions, Janet’s Planet, KEVA Planks, and many more.
Destination Imagination Receives Motorola Solutions Foundation Grant
Thanks to a recent grant from Motorola Solutions Foundation, Destination Imagination had the opportunity to enhance STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) and 21st century skills initiatives for approximately 900 students who reside in underserved communities in the U.S.
PMIEF Sponsors First Destination Imagination Project Plan Scholarship
This past Destination Imagination season, the Project Management Institute Educational Foundation (PMIEF), sponsored our first Project Plan Scholarship. Sylvia Rivera, PMIEF’s Programs Administrator, presented the award at Global Finals 2018.
Ford & DI Team Up for City of Tomorrow Challenge
In partnership with Ford STEAM Experience, we challenged parents to team up with their kids to design a solution to help make future cities more accessible and efficient. Three participants were awarded scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $5,000.
Ohio Students Raise Money To Help Hurricane Maria Survivors
After Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017, a DI team from Ohio made it their mission to help children who were affected. They raised enough money to create and send school supply kits to 21 third-graders at Juanita Garcia Peraza Elementary School.
Fifth-Graders Work Together To Save Lives
Knowing that their Team Manager was in need of a kidney transplant, New York DI team, 6 Smarties, chose to raise awareness for living organ and blood donation. They partnered with UNYTS on a blood drive and collected enough blood to save 57 lives.
Alumni Stories
Destination Imagination has more than one million alumni worldwide. Hear from some of them on the benefits of our program and how it prepared them for their careers and beyond.
New Online DI Volunteer Training
Thanks to a partnership with Clarix Technologies and Adobe, Destination Imagination was able to create a new online training portal for volunteers, including Team Managers, Challenge Masters and Appraisers.
Destination Imagination Welcomes Five International Affiliates
This past year, Destination Imagination welcomed seven new International Affiliates who are helping to empower more children and teams around the globe. Our new International Affiliates include Albania, Bahrain, France, Greece, Pakistan, Panama and Kazakhstan.
Teams Participate in a DI Challenge Abroad
In March, teams from the U.S. and across the world participated in a one-of-kind Buddy Team Challenge and Instant Challenge at the DI Poland Affiliate Tournament. In addition to the tournament, teams had the opportunity to collaborate with Polish DI teams and explore the beautiful city of Wroclaw.
Our organization could not do what we do without the support of our nearly 40,000 volunteers worldwide. Thank you to all of our volunteers for your unwavering support and countless hours of work to make Destination Imagination happen for students around the world.
This has been an exciting year for the Destination Imagination organization. Thanks to the efforts and support of our volunteers, Affiliates, sponsors and staff, we were able to meet and exceed the goals we had for this year.
Click here to view our Financial Statements for the year.