WHIZ KIDS: Up and Down Movers of Ring Factory Elementary School

Names: Matthew Gartside, Nate Dimick, Jack Randle, Quinn Nawakowski, Emily Loane, Elizabeth Fabiano, Kathleen DiCarlo

Grades: Third and Fifth

Accomplishment: In their first year ever as a Destination Imagination team, they are headed to the global competition in Knoxville, TN.

Key to awesomeness: This team of six third-graders and one fifth-grader works together to solve technical challenges. Every year, DI creates six challenges and each participating team picks one challenge to focus on in competitions. This year, team picked, “Unidentified Moving Object.” They strategize to move an object from a pool of water, up to the top of a six-foot tower, and back down. The team must also create a sales promotion and jingle for the equipment they use, which must fit inside of a 20-square-inch box and not exceed a $174 budget. They have eight minutes to complete their tasks in competition.

This year, Up and Down Movers placed third at regionals (Harford and Cecil counties), first in their central challenge and second at states, propelling them to the global competition.

“We’re over-the-top proud of them for what they accomplished this year. It’s really amazing,” parent and co-manager of the team Marcy Loane said.

The team practices four to five days per week at school and at parents’s houses with replica structures made from cardboard boxes and duct tape.

“The parents have just been incredibly supportive," team manager Lois Fabiano said.

The Up and Down Movers will host a fundraiser where you can meet the team at on Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. and a car wash on Saturday at the corner of Route 924 and Laurel Bush Road.