The teams did a great job today. We’ve seen all but one of the Breaking DI News and DIrect DIposit teams perform. The group favorite so far is the Do or DI team from Aspen Academy. Not only are they about the cutest little kids around but the room laughed nonstop during the 7 minute planning time and the performance.

Tonight the teams have several choices of activities to choose from. The Improv Fiesta or The Costume Ball. All are a fun way to spend the evening. As always there will be plenty on pin trading! The teams have been making get well posters and signing cards to cheer Sam up and let him know we’re thinking about him. This is such a great, supportive group!

Fridays schedule will require some quick travels on our parts to fit everyone in. 19 teams perform but thankfully their locations are fairly close together. It will be tight!

By today the majority of the teams have checked into their housing, they’ve been to prop storage to make sure their things arrived safely, maybe practiced a time or two. They’ve checked out the campus, tried to figure out the bus routes and located the Starbucks. Today is a day to relax, prepare and meet. At 3:00 we kicked off the start of Global Finals with a Pep Rally at the Worlds Fair Park. The local high school marching band escorted everyone into the park signaling the start of what will be an exciting four days. There were games, music and plenty for team members to do while the Team Managers were attending their Team Managers meeting.

At 7:00 the Opening Ceremonies began with the Parade of Countries and States. Several teams from each participating country or state was announced into the arena with much fan fair. Colorado’s cheering section was impressive! The team members who marched in are seated on the floor of the arena to view the rest of the ceremony. There were introductions, text voting for the best Team Manager recruiting video produced by a team. The Tom Carmelo Award was presented by his granddaughter and Florence HS team member Ally. The band Mase played a number dedicated to DI and then the laser light show and fireworks began. It was an impressive sight!

On a more serious note, one of the team members from the Escalante MS was seriously injured in a fall tonight. He will be all right but will require a week to ten days in the hospital. We ask that you keep Sam and his family in your thoughts. DIHQ has rescheduled the teams performance for Friday afternoon. The kids are determined to be successful to honor Sam. We’ll all be rooting for them!

Funky flamingos are taking over lawns in this bucolic ranching town on the eastern plains.

In the pink crush are pirate, clown, baseball, hippie and jail birds. One looks strangely like Alice Cooper. The clan of 35 costumed birds is a fundraiser for a Calhan middle-school team heading to Tennessee for the world finals of Destination ImagiNation, a creativity and problem-solving competition.

The Calhan team needs about $5,000 more for the trip, and has three weeks to get it. Forget car washes and candy bars. This is, after all, a think-out-of-the box mental sport. The flocking of flamingos to fund-raise isn’t unique to Calhan. Other teams in the Pikes Peak region and nationwide also use the leggy birds to pay for the top Destination ImagiNation tourney. Students flock a yard for a donation, moving the birds after dark to surprise the target. Some people pay to flock themselves.

The flamboyant flamingos took to the streets Saturday on a float in Calhan’s Loyalty Day parade put on by the VFW to promote patriotism.

One bird wore camouflage, though not exactly the U.S. Army variety. “The costumes are made from duct tape,” said Zayna Pieper, 12. She and her three teammates made the outfits to give color to the flamingos. And so the birds wouldn’t have to prance around naked.

The team qualified in a recent Denver competition for the May 26-29 world finals.

Zayna was on the Calhan elementary team that competed in the world meet last year. The extracurricular activity opens a big world to the small-town students. “Some had never been on an airplane,” said Zayna’s mom, Debbie. “Some had never been out of Colorado.” For Zayna, it does more than bend her mind. “You have a challenge and then you have this great feeling of overcoming the challenge,” she said. “It gives you that sense of pride.”

The Calhan flamingos are available until May 24.

Call 719-347-2516 to flock it to your friends.

The following three Colorado teams placed in the top three in their Challenge:

“Not Done Thinking Yet” from St. Mary’s Academy – South Metro Region placed 3rd in ViDIo Lit Hits, Elementary.

“Two and a Half Twins” from Steck Elementary – Denver Region placed 3rd in Instinct Messaging, Elementary.

“Space Spuds” from Goddard MS – South Metro Region placed 3rd in ViDIo Lit Hits, Middle Level.

Goddard MS also received The Renaissance Award – This award is given for outstanding skill in the areas of engineering, design, or performance.
The award read as follows:
Blue ocean waves and menacing music threatened our sense of safety. When a giant set of shark teeth came chillingly close to the appraiser’s table, we experienced goosebumps. This team’s riveting music video drew us in and clamped down on us like JAWS.

DI eXtreme

Colorado Matilda and the Hatters from Florence High School, South Region, placed 1st in DI eXtreme Head – to – Head Challenge  “Full Tilt”.

Click here for the results of all the Global Final teams!

Tom and the National Dairy Council have Supported DI at a national level for many years. Here in Colorado, Tom and the Western Dairy Association’s have been a tremendous support as well. The Western Dairy Association’s financial assistance provides trophies for all Regional and State Tournaments. They provide the Dairy Instant Challenge at the State Tournament and milk to every Regional Tournament!

Congratulations Tom! We appreciate everything you do!