A $5,000 grant from global engineering firm Atkins to the Round Rock ISD Talented and Gifted Parent Advisory Council will be handed down to four elementary schools to fund Destination Imagination teams.

The Round Rock ISD TAGPAC received the $5,000 grant to promote science, technology, math and engineering education. Destination Imagination is a nonprofit organization that uses project-based problem solving to teach creativity and logic.

“It’s rewarding to see companies in the community validate students’ interests in creativity and problem solving through moral and financial support,” said Michelle Swain, director of gifted and talented academic services. “Students participating in Destination Imagination are honing skills that will be value to their academic and personal development.”

The four schools receiving grants are Teravista and Forest North elementary schools, receiving $400 grants, and Laurel Mountain and Sommer elementary schools, receiving $600 each.

The final $3,000 will be used to host a district-wide Instant Challenge where teams will complete problem-solving projects in preparation for the March 7 regional Destination Imagination tournament.

Sommer elementary has two competition and 11 total teams. Sommer TAG Specialist Hope Scallan said the money will be used to bring outside training, like improvisation, to the students. The school will also host an Instant Challenge night for all the teams to participate and critique projects.

“The kids get so excited because they have to create everything themselves and parents can’t take over,” Scallan said. “The manager leads the group, but the children have to do the work themselves to solve the challenge”

Destination Imagination is in its first year at Forest North with two teams gearing up to compete. Forest North Assistant Principal Mary Decker said the grant funds will be used to register the teams for competition and to buy supplies for the projects.

“Destination Imagination gives them an outlet to express themselves creatively as decision makers,” she said. “They’re the ones who are deciding what to do, encouraging teamwork and problem solving skills.”