Spirit of DI Award

 

To: Elizabeth Fierro, Announcer

Challenge/Level: Live! It’s RaDIo DI!/ EL

 

Elizabeth made all teams, audience members and appraisers feel welcome and energetic. Elizabeth remained energetic and engaging again to teams, audience, and appraisers. She emanates spirit and positive energy from reading the guidelines to announcing the Improv element.

 

Renaissance Awards

 

To: PB Smith Elem

Challenge/Level: DIsigning Bridges/EL

 

This team had a storybook at the center of their performance. Their design allowed the book to lie flat on the floor, with pop-ups at each turn of the page and folded away nicely, allowing the story to flow without interruption or mishap.

 

To: Agnor-Hurt Elem

Challenge/Level: Live! It’s RaDIo DI /EL

 

The presentation allowed the appraiser to visualize actually sitting in front of a radio listening to a radio. They had an outstanding story, great sound effects showing creative thoughts and performance.

 

To: Daniel Morgan MS

Challenge/Level: Sudden Serendipity/ ML

 

This team used a combination of simple machines and electrical components to create a lifelike invention. Using a myriad of electrical components, the team wired a fully functional device made of motors, pulleys, springs, switches and lamps. A simple flip of a switch activated a motor, to wind up a string, to pull a stopper, to release a spring, causing a replica of an x-ray photograph to pop up like bread from a toaster - all the while turning on a strobe light to represent a camera flash and two black lights over 15 feet away. 

 

To: Ocean Lakes MS

Challenge/Level: DIsigning Bridges/SL

 

This team used a uniquely designed arch for their bridge. Although some of their “Gorilla Glue” had not yet dried, they had adjustable tension braided fishing lines which worked to hold the arch shape and were “tuned” by matching sound frequency of the lines when plucked.

 

To: Marion MS

Challenge/Level: IMPROVing Along/ML

 

Bring on the battle of the Kings. In this main challenge solution it’s Elvis versus the Shark Surfer, with the content decided in the song, “Hunka Hunka Burnin’ Lava.” Creative construction of a surfboard/stage carried along by wave action, and an instant replay of surfing and singing skills by the King himself gave the audience and appraisers a trip to Hawaii like no other. Artistically crafted and well thought out, props added cowabunga creativity to the adventure.

 

To: Norfolk Academy

Challenge/Level: IMPROVing Along/SL

 

The Norfolk Academy gentleman created a spooky graveyard out of cardboard boxes and hidden team members/zombies that wowed the appraisers. This team’s well-defined intriguing and humorous characters and story of a guest to bury a “beloved leafy friend” showed the audience and appraisers full command of improve theater: a nuanced, truly entertaining and DIstinct performance.

 

To: Raven School

Challenge/Level: DIsigning Bridges/SL

 

This team told a very compelling story of a mother and son’s journey from ancient Rome to Brittania. The performance included a mournful song with beautiful accompaniment, a backdrop with exquisite artwork, and an outstanding Celtic dance. The excellent blending of various skills made for a performance worth remembering.

 

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DaVincI Awards

 

To: Powhatan School

Challenge/Level: DIsigning Bridges/EL

 

This team used peanut butter and jelly to tell the story of Nelson Mandela. Their use of pop-up props, wriggling worms, creative costumes, allegories for apartheid, humor in the script, and beautiful replica of the Mandela Bridge showed an exceptionally creative team effort by this group of kids.

 

To: Roanoke Catholic

Challenge/Level: Sudden SerenDIpity/ML

 

This team created and built a hovercraft machine designed to move around a teenager’s room and clean it up for them. This machine employed an air blower that actually worked to raise the platform off the ground while one of the team members was standing on it.

 

To: John Handley HS

Challenge/Level: Sudden SerenDIpity/SL

 

This team’s innovation with the design of their invention was superceded by the creativity and depth of their performance. Every aspect of their solution was planned and deliberate, from color symbolism and metaphors to costume design and dialogue. Themes of “old country vs. modernism” ran through their entire solution. Their differing views of the characters were not presented in a small, special segment, but rather integrated into their entire performance, forcing the appraisers to think way outside the box.

 

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