Ukrainian schoolchildren win international awards at Destination Imagination global finals in US
According to the academy, six Ukrainian teams and representatives of the National Center "Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine" took part in the Destination Imagination Global Finals in the United States.
The Destination Imagination Global Finals 2026 took place in Kansas City from May 21 to 24. A total of 613 teams from 11 countries competed.
The teams that joined the Destination Imagination Global Finals had previously won the All-Ukrainian Olympiad:
The Destination Imagination Global Finals opened on May 21 with an opening ceremony and the Parade of Nations. After that, participants prepared their stage sets, rehearsed, met other teams, and explored Kansas City.
The coaches, together with the teams and representatives of the affiliated organization Destination Imagination Ukraine, also met the leadership of the international program. They included Destination Imagination CEO Mark Giordono, Affiliate Relations Director Kelsey Celek, and international consultant Renee Elizabeth Rainville. The Ukrainian delegation thanked them for their support and cooperation in developing the creative potential of children and young people.
The competition took place in three age categories:
Each team presented its own solution to the selected challenge before experts and the audience.
A separate part of the competition was the instant challenge, whose content participants did not know before their performance began. To complete it, schoolchildren used creativity, teamwork skills, quick thinking, and the ability to find unconventional solutions.
The final stage of the competition was the closing ceremony on May 24, during which the organizers announced the results.
According to the final results, Ukrainian teams achieved the following:
In addition to team awards, the competition also presents the Champion of Belonging award. It goes to participants and mentors who most clearly demonstrate Destination Imagination's values and help strengthen connections between people.
This year, the awards went to coaches of teams that took part in the Global Finals and the All-Ukrainian Olympiad: Olha Morozova, Iryna Melnychuk, Anna Shyrokova, Liubov Piven, and Diana Ryzhenko. Dmytro Vasylenko, a member of the "Vybukh" team, also received the award.
Background
Destination Imagination is the world's largest educational program for developing creativity, founded in the United States. Its goal is to help children and young people unlock their potential, learn to work in teams, and gain the skills needed to solve the challenges of the future.
As part of the program, each team independently chooses a challenge in the fields of natural sciences, technology, engineering, improvisation, service learning, or art, and works creatively on a solution. Adults act as mentors in this process and do not interfere in the preparation of solutions.
Participants develop creative and critical thinking, public speaking, teamwork, and communication skills, and learn to independently find solutions to complex tasks.
As a reminder, the team of the National Center "Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine" held the national final of the GENIUS Olympiad Ukraine in Zakarpattia, one of the key educational events of 2026. From February 20 to 23, more than 350 schoolchildren from across the country presented research, technological developments, and art projects dedicated to environmental challenges and the future of the environment.
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28 of May 2026
