Transit Middle pupils take flight
DI team works with aircraft design
by ELIZABETH TAUFA Reporter

The Aviators, a Destination Imagination team from Transit Middle School, qualified for the international Destination Imagination competition in Knoxville, Tenn. The team, all sixth-graders, are, from left, Yessica Wiryawan, Christina Bennett, Paul Hart, Sam Bumbalo, Jake Morse, Conner Awayda and Ben Yao.

Designing a machine that flies on its own and can land with any amount of accuracy takes years of schooling, training and hard work.

Or does it?

A Destination Imagination team consisting of seven sixth-graders from Transit Middle School made it work.

The team, called the Aviators, designed several different aircraft that would stay airborne for various lengths of time; a compressed air cannon for launching the aircraft; and an elevator to load the aircraft into the cannon - all in one school year.

"This was the most difficult challenge they could have picked, but they still wanted to do it," said Jeri Frederiksen, the team's manager. "They really like the idea of launching the plane."

As part of Destination Imagination, teams can choose from any of the challenges provided by the international organization. The pupils, ranging in age from elementary to high school, then spend the school year preparing to present their solutions to the challenges at state, regional and international levels.

The Aviators' challenge was to design all aspects of the aircraft launches. They also had to make sure that the planes would land in a specific area during competition. The more accurate they were, the more points awarded.

"We did 12 launches in eight minutes, and eight of those launches landed in the designated area," Frederiksen said.

The team's hard work paid off. They took first at both the state and regional levels, earning a place at the international competition in Knoxville, Tenn., on May 25.

Unfortunately, due to time constraints and a lack of funding, the team will not be making an appearance at the competition.

"It's a lot of money and a lot of school to miss at a bad time," said Frederiksen, whose son Kyle was on a DI team last year. "We are looking to start a boosters club, though."

She noted that meetings have been set up with both the Clarence and Orchard Park booster clubs - two school systems with established DI programs - to find a way to expand funding for DI teams.

Interest in Destination Imagination is already present in the Williamsville pupils.

"We had 60 students who wanted to be a part of it," Frederiksen said. "Unfortunately, we didn't have enough parents for team managers, so we had to audition them."

The time commitment to DI was also a factor for the students.

"These kids are busy with religion classes and athletics, not to mention study time," she said. "We work on Saturdays and after school."

David Schultz, a teacher at Transit Middle and a model plane enthusiast, worked with the pupils for four consecutive Saturdays on their aircraft design.

The pupils also did extensive Internet research to find their designs.

Even though Frederiksen's team is unable to go to the international competition, the DI experience was not without its rewards.

"What they learn is amazing," Frederiksen said. "It's not just for the smartest kids; it's also for the kids who are creative, who can think outside the box."

She noted that watching the growth in pupils' confidence, both in their problem-solving skills and in themselves, was a reward for her as their manager.

Even though this year's competitions are over for the pupils from Transit Middle, several of them have already focused their sights on next year.

"I have four who are definitely interested in competing next year," Frederiksen said of her team of five boys and two girls. "It's really been a bonding experience for them as well."

e-mail: etaufa@beenews.com