Laguna Beach teams advance to state finals of Destination Imagination competition

Four teams from Thurston Middle School, three from Top of the World Elementary School and one from Laguna Beach High School qualified for the state finals of the Destination Imagination competition with their performances in a regional tournament Saturday in Laguna Beach, Thurston science teacher Ina Wu said.

Thurston Middle School hosted 41 teams from Orange and San Diego counties for various timed scientific, technical and fine-arts challenges that tested their creativity, problem solving and time management skills.

Participants usually represent schools but also can hail from the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and 4-H, Wu said.

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Teams from Newport Beach, Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach did not participate, Wu said.

The state finals are scheduled for April 1 in McClellan Park in Sacramento County.

Destination Imagination is an educational company that conducts competitions nationwide focusing on risk-taking while incorporating elements of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and the arts.