Non-Traditional Students Shine at School Competitions

PORTLAND, Ore. - May 12, 2014 - PRLog -- Students in traditional public and private schools have many opportunities to participate in various academic competitions, and it is no different for the students at  Village Home (http://www.villagehome.org/).

Village Home is an alternative to school, where students pick their classes, and do not follow a standardized curriculum. Competing against students who all follow a similar core curriculum may put Village Home students at a disadvantage, but the results at competitions tell a different story.

This spring season alone, Village Home has fielded award winning teams in academic competitions including Destination Imagination, Mock Trial, Model UN, First Tech Challenge, Science Bowl, and Kid Wind.

In the leading competition for creative-thinking and problem-solving, Destination Imagination (http://www.idodi.org), five Village Home teams won the state competition and qualified for Global Finals (http://globalfinals.org/). Three teams from Village Home will be traveling to University of Tennessee with 13 other teams from across the state, to compete with 18,000 students from around the world at Global Finals May 21 -24.

Details about the three teams traveling to Global Finals from Village Home:

​Theories of DI-tivity (2nd year Elementary Team):
Gabby Calvi, William Mueller, Owen Pickering, Autumn Straus.
Team Manager: Deborah Mueller
The Theories of DI-tivity stretched their comfort zones this year with a new challenge. In Pandemonium, DI's Improvisation Challenge, the Theories grew as individuals and as a team…and placed 1st in their division at Metro Regionals, and then 1st place at State.

​Don't Ask, We're Totally Insane (4th year Middle Level Team):
Evan Lenneville Hutchinson, Mercy Mcvicker, Anna Mueller, Ryan Richardson, Cole Straus, Natalie Walker
Team Manager: Lori Walker
Last year, Don't Ask, We're Totally Insane won 4th place at Global Finals in Knoxville. This year, "Don't Ask" won 1st place at Metro Regionals and 1st place State. "Don't Ask" is aiming for 1st place at Global Finals in Tennessee! Don't Ask is supported in part by a generous donation from Wieden + Kennedy.

Tootsie Pops (5th year Senior Level Team):
Kendra Burton, Katie Golab, Julia Mueller, Charlotte Smythe, Claren Walker
Team Manager: Deborah Mueller
Kendra Burton, Katie Golab, Julia Mueller, Charlotte Smythe, Claren Walker
Team Manager: Deborah Mueller
After taking a year off following their 2012 Global Finals adventure, the Tootsie Pops are back for their “Comeback Tour.”  Tackling a challenge that they previously shied away from, the Pops shone at the Southern Regional Tournament in Pandemonium, the Improvisation Challenge, earning 1st place in their division and a Da Vinci Award, DI’s highest honor. The Tootsie Pops won first place in State and are headed to Global Finals, despite their varied, hectic schedules with some members working around their community college classes.