Nine Destination Imagination teams qualify for Lone Star Finals

Midlothian ISD students brought creativity, innovation, and teamwork to the spotlight on Feb. 21, 2026, at the Greater Fort Worth Regional Destination Imagination Tournament, held at Waxahachie High School.

Competing against more than 150 teams from across the region, students from nine MISD campuses rose to the challenge, with 30 teams presenting imaginative solutions to seven rigorous STEAM-based (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) competitions. Their hard work, collaboration, and problem-solving skills were on full display. There were nine teams in the Rising Stars Challenge and 21 in the competitive challenge categories. Of these teams, MISD had 14 teams medal in the competition, five high instant challenge awards, and with three teams receiving Special Awards.

The Super Smart Thinking T-Rexes received the Torchbearer Award, which is a prestigious honor recognizing teams that demonstrate exceptional, high-impact, and innovative solutions to real-world community needs, primarily within the Service Learning challenge. The Super Kooper’s Mental Marroverse and the Technically, it’s Service teams both were awarded the highly coveted Renaissance Award, which honors outstanding design, engineering, execution, and performance in a team’s challenge solution.

MISD made an impressive showing, with nine of the competitive teams advancing to the Lone Star Finals in April, a powerful testament to the district’s commitment to fostering innovation and excellence.

In addition to this, MISD had six students receive the Magellan Award: Olivia Morgan, Deborah Bolduc, Tyler Langbien, and Wyatt Stillwell from Midlothian Heritage, Olivia Stillwell from Walnut Grove MS, and Maycie Wilborn from Dieterich MS. This award recognizes those students who, over the years, have completed solutions to challenges in each of the six competitive categories. Named after Ferdinand Magellan, who is famous for circumnavigating the globe, it reflects an individual student's efforts to visit all Destinations in DI. The GFWDI board also honored MISD’s seniors from Teenagers in Tiaras: Blair Bryant, Gretta Gardner, and Davin Mulkey. Gretta also received the Jo Williams Scholarship for her AI or DI video submission.

Teams advancing to Lone Star Finals

Super Smart Thinking T-Rexes, Baxter Elementary
1st Place – Service Learning, Torchbearer Award
Team Members: Kylar Moore, Knox Moore, Leah Castles, Rayleigh Delay, Wyatt Wilkins
Team Managers: Danielle Moore, Brittany Castles

Red Hot Silly Peppers, Miller Elementary
2nd Place – Service Learning
Team Members: Corina Salcedo, McKenzie Arriaga, Lane Kornegay, Alex Benson, Cade Templeton, Max Karaman, Phoebe Wells
Team Managers: Jessica Arriaga, Allison Templeton

A Team Name, Miller Elementary
1st Place – Improv
Team Members: Caden Stetz, Charlie Driggers, Braxton Vinnola, Payton Fields, Finn Vordtriede, Anella Soto
Team Manager: Andrea Stetz

Technically It’s Service, Dieterich MS (advanced in two categories)
3rd Place – Technical Challenge, High Instant Challenge
1st Place – Service Learning, High Instant Challenge, Renaissance Award
Team Members: Casey Arriaga, Maycie Wilborn, Norah Harmonson, Taiwo Alamundune, Julia Josselyn
Team Manager: Jessica Arriaga

Super Kooper’s Mental Marrowverse, Dieterich MS (advanced in two categories)
1st Place – Scientific, High Instant Challenge
1st Place – Fine Arts, High Instant Challenge, Renaissance Award
Team Members: Brock Behan, Rhys Disney, Zac Valverde, Ella Lamm, Zoe Valverde, Luke Baldwin, Jackson Everhart
Team Managers: Kristen Behan, Laura Valverde

Teenagers in Tiaras, Midlothian HS
1st Place – Improv, High Instant Challenge
Team Members: Grace Gardner, Davan Mulkey, Gretta Gardner, Blair Bryant
Team Manager: Danielle Gardner

Rollerblading Wizards, Walnut Grove MS and Heritage HS
1st Place – Service Learning Challenge
Team Members: Wyatt Stillwell, Olivia Stillwell, Tyler Langbien, Jenna Addicks, Deborah Bolduc, Olivia Morgan
Team Managers: Hilary Stillwell, Alyssa Heimer

About Destination Imagination
Destination Imagination is a volunteer-led, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring and equipping students to become the next generation of innovators and leaders. Through project-based learning, students work in teams to tackle open-ended STEAM and service-learning challenges, building critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration skills along the way.

Since its founding in 1982, Destination Imagination has impacted more than 2 million students worldwide.