DI fundraising for global event

The Thermopolis Middle School Destination Imagination team recently was chosen, during State Competition at Casper, for a Wild Card position at Globals, but the team — made up of eighth graders Erica Meier, Jasmine Steadman, Katie Burrows, Breeze Petty, Hannah Hu and Naomi Bishop — needs some help from the community to get there.

Known as the Pretty Little “DI”ers, the girls have already done some fundraisers involving cabbage burgers, cinnamon rolls, fried rice and sesame chicken, and were part of last week’s ArtStroll. So far, they have brought in $2,500 of the $15,000 goal, and there are plenty of fundraising events in the coming weeks.

Krispy Kreme donuts are being sold for $10 a dozen from now through the 18th. Delivery will be at the middle school parking lot from 7-9 a.m. on Friday, April 22. While DI parent Tonya Petty hopes plenty of people will pre-order, and leftover donuts will be sold alongside other baked goods at a bake sale at Blair’s from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. April 23.

Similar bake sales — minus the Krispy Kremes — are planned for two other Saturdays, May 7 and May 21. The sales also provide opportunities to buy raffle tickets — $5 each or five for $20 — for a $500 gift card to Blair’s.

Pizza Hut is also helping out. On Wednesday, April 27, from 5-9 p.m. a portion of dine in orders goes directly to the Pretty Little “DI”ers, to be served by three members of the team to hear stories about DI and the organization itself.

People are invited to come to the VFW on Friday, May 13, for a potato bar and chili dinner beginning at 5 p.m. The team will also be available to talk about their skit. There is no set cost, and people can pay a donation amount to the team. The drawing for the Blair’s gift card will also be during the dinner.

Petty said Globals, held in Knoxville, Tenn. May 25-28, truly is a global experience. There are different DI teams from each state, and last year saw them from places such as China and Malaysia.

Destination Imagination puts out eight challenges per year, based around Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM), and teams choose the one they want to do. The challenge chosen by the Thermopolis team was to create a vehicle that would carry a team member 14 feet.

The vehicle’s complete, and the students created a skit that incorporates demonstration of their project. In it, a grandmother tells her granddaughter a story with some familiar characters such as Sleeping Beauty and Maleficent. However, these two get mixed up with the world of Ariel and Ursula from the Little Mermaid. The vehicle comes into play as the lead princesses go back and forth between the worlds, and each time the vehicle makes the 14-foot trip means more team points.

The $15,000 goal will help pay for the team, as well as Coach Wes Meier and a female chaperone, to attend Globals. Petty hopes to make a $6,000 benchmark by May 1. Those interested in ordering Krispy Kremes or helping DI can contact her at 921-8547.