This will be the University of Toronto’s seventh year competing at the International competition, after being the first Canadian University to send a team to the Global Finals in Knoxville, Tennessee. Below outlines U of T’s success over the past couple of years:

2015-2016 Season

In the 2015-2016 season, University of Toronto did not compete internationally, but instead supported a local not-for-profit organization, the Trek for Teens Foundation, through the construction of large board games for their fair in support of homeless youth in Toronto.

2014-2015 Season

In the 2014-2015 season, University of Toronto competed in two challenges in the areas of technical design and structural design, U of T brought home two gold medals and a first place instant challenge award.

2013-2014 Season

In the 2013-2014 season, University of Toronto sent three teams to compete in five of the core challenges at the Global Finals competition. The teams competed in the technical, scientific, fine arts, community service, and structural challenges. The team placed in four challenges, receiving first place in the technical, fine arts and community service challenges, third place in the structural challenge, and fourth place in the scientific challenge.

Team Members: (Left to Right – Valerie Brown, Michael Bazzocchi, Nicole Bazzocchi

Team Members: (Left to Right) Eisha Patel, Catheline Li, Mayuri Patel, (Absent – Jacob Si)

Team Members: (Top – Left to Right) Brian Page, Michael Bazzocchi (Bottom – Left to Right) Claire Veira, Nicole Bazzocchi

2012-2013 Season

In the 2012-2013 season, University of Toronto sent a team to compete in four of the core challenges at the Global Finals competition. The teams competed in the technical, fine arts, community service, and structural challenges. The team placed in all four challenges, receiving first place in the fine arts challenge, second place in the technical and service learning challenges, and third place in the structural challenge.

2011-2012 Season

In the 2011-2012 season, University of Toronto combined three previously separate teams to compete in five of the core challenges at the Global Finals competition. The teams competed in the technical, scientific, theater arts, improvisational, and structural challenges. No team has attempted to compete in all five challenges in over a decade and as such appraisers were stunned by this teams dedication and leadership.  The team received a 6th place finish in the improvisational challenge as well as  four silver medals in the technical, scientific, theater arts and structural challenges.

In addition to this incredible success, the team was given the most prestigious special award at the Global Finals competition — here is a description of the award and a blurb from the competition officials explaining why the team was given the award:

 

The Spirit of Discovery and Imagination (“DI”)Award

This award is given in recognition of those who act as superior role models in the areas of spirit, sportsmanship and volunteerism.

University of Toronto, 154-71362, Ontario

“For two days and nights, this team labored in Prop Storage, creating intricate, modular props including bookcases, a clock tower, a sleigh, and individually wired reindeer built to provide a holiday backdrop for several of the five Challenges in which they competed. Working as intently as elves on December 24th, these team members were observed on numerous occasions stopping their work to respond to questions from Elementary and Middle Level teams. Different team members were repeatedly seen ceasing production to answer questions from passerbys about wiring and mechanical connections, and about set design and other performance aspects of their solution. One or two such occasions would have been expected of a University Level team, but this team continued to mentor others throughout the days in Prop Storage and truly served as inspirational role models to younger DI participants.”

 

2010-2011 Season

In the 2010-2011 season, University of Toronto sent two Destination Imagination teams to the international competition where they competed in three separate challenges.  In both the Technical Design and Theater Arts themed challenges U of T placed First and in the Improvisational themed challenge U of T placed Second.

 This is the first time that a Canadian team has achieved a first place finish and as such U of T has earned much respect in the global destination imagination community.

U of T surprised and impressed judges and fellow participants alike. Teams filled the presentation sites to capacity, attracting interest from appraisers, affiliate directors and corporate VIP sponsors. The interest generated by our designs and presentation was so great that a special dispensation was made to allow the film crew to videotape the presentation and conduct an interview with the team.

Team Members: (Left to Right) Michael Bazzocchi, Karolina Kosciolek, Lakmal Perera – Team Manager: Francesco Bazzocchi (back)

Team Members: (Front – Left to Right) Jessica Longarini, Amanda Marie Silva; (Top – Left to Right) Jessica Tomasi, Michael Bazzocchi (Team Manager), Jordana Caranci

2009-2010 Season

In the 2009-2010 season, University of Toronto sent a team to compete in the technical challenge and placed 3rd internationally.