PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — Two Calvert County Destination Imagination teams, The Clowniens and The Economic Engineers, will compete at the Global Finals in Kansas City, Missouri, from May 22 to 26, 2025, after dominating Maryland’s regional and state tournaments. The 10 students, representing elementary and middle schools, earned their spots by crafting innovative solutions to STEAM-based challenges, showcasing creativity and teamwork. Local sponsors, including Exelon, Harkins Builders, Shore United Bank, Quality Built Homes, SMECO, and Optimist International, are funding their journey, covering registration, travel, and lodging costs.
The Clowniens, an elementary team, tackled the engineering challenge by designing a self-propelled transporter to carry weights along an inclined cord. Their presentation, featuring aliens landing at a circus, captivated state judges with its daring skit and technical precision. Team members include Elliott Brockinton of Mutual Elementary, Connor Brown, Noah Corrao, and Bo Gallipeau of Barstow Elementary, and Jeffrey Riggs of Our Lady Star of the Sea. Team manager Melody Gallipeau praised their collaboration, stating, “It’s been impressive watching these students learn to work together and from each other. They quickly learned that they had to communicate first before they could build.”
The Economic Engineers, a middle school team, excelled in the technical challenge, constructing a crane and bulldozer to stack and knock down wooden blocks. Their skit portrayed an entrepreneurial family’s business rise and fall, blending humor, metaphors, and technical skill to secure top scores. The team comprises Gavin Brown, Spencer Brown, Alex Curtin, Riley Armacost, and Theus Vaa, all from Calvert Middle School. Erin Brown, team manager and mother of two members, said, “The students’ hard work and creativity have been incredible to watch. This is truly the experience of a lifetime for these students. We are so grateful to our sponsors—without their support, this opportunity wouldn’t have been possible.”
Both teams will face a two-part competition at the Global Finals, including the Instant Challenge, where they must devise solutions to unexpected problems in under 10 minutes using improvisation and teamwork. Gallipeau noted, “The instant challenges we practiced were hard work, but definitely a great skill to learn.” The Global Finals, hosted by Destination Imagination, is the world’s largest celebration of creativity, drawing top teams from regional and affiliate tournaments worldwide to compete in STEAM-focused challenges. Teams qualified through high rankings at their affiliate tournaments, with registration fees set at $5,500 per team, requiring a $2,000 deposit by mid-April 2025.
The Clowniens and Economic Engineers spent months preparing, honing their ability to innovate under pressure. Their sponsors’ support ensures they can focus on representing Calvert County on a global stage. The event, held at the Kansas City Convention Center, offers opportunities for cultural exchange, such as pin trading and the “Share Your Culture” Hallway of Countries, alongside competitive challenges. Financial assistance applications, open from February 12 to March 14, 2025, could further offset costs, with an average award of $2,778 based on demonstrated need.
Calvert County’s teams are poised to demonstrate their problem-solving and collaborative skills against over 600 teams from countries like China, Korea, and Ukraine. Their journey highlights the region’s commitment to fostering youth innovation through programs like Destination Imagination, which emphasizes STEAM education and creative problem-solving. As they prepare, the students carry the support of their community, aiming to make a mark at this prestigious international event.
