The Waupaca Warriors has earned an invite to attend the Destination Imagination global finals May 23 in Knoxille, Tenn.

They did so after placing third on April 14 at the state tournament at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

The team placed third in the middle level for their project outreach challenge.

It has been eight years since a Waupaca Destination team has been invited to the global finals.

Those who are interested in the efforts of the Waupaca Warriors and Destination Imagination may contact Kate Gile at Waupaca Middle School at 715-258-4140.

Gile is a sixth-grade teacher at the school, and she is also the DI manager for the Waupaca Warriors.

Destination Imagination is an educational program in which student teams solve open-ended challenges and present their solutions at a tournament.

This team chose to do a service-learning project that will help domestic abuse victims in Waupaca County.

They made seven fleece blankets and put together 20 bags that contain personal hygiene items, small toys and snacks to be given to children in domestic abuse situations.

The items have been given to Connie Abert, of the Waupaca County UW-Extension office.

“I think some will go to law enforcement, some to CAP Services and come to the victim witness coordinator,” Abert said. “They did a good job. They didn’t know much about it – what the situations are, the environment. They had good questions.”

Camryn Borland is a member of the Waupaca Warriors team, and he said they decided to give blankets and bags of items to police officers, because the county does not yet have a shelter for domestic abuse victims.

“The whole point,” Gile said, “was to do something for the community. The students were perceptive. They met other people and learned a lot.”