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By Robby O’Daniel

For children, one of the most frequent answers to “What do you want to be when you grow up?” is an astronaut.

NASA Associate Administrator for Education and former astronaut Leland Melvin did not know he wanted to be an astronaut until he had already worked nine years at NASA.

Melvin met with Destination ImagiNation participants on Friday morning at the Knoxville Convention Center, signing autographs and answering questions.

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by Christian Ross

So much work goes on behind the scenes to make the Destination ImagiNation Global Finals run smoothly.

Unfortunately, things in life happen that we don’t have any control over. Pamela Schroeder, the Vice-Chair of the Destination ImagiNation Board of Trustees, is one the many people that could not join us for the 2011 Global Finals.

Schroeder is back in Minnesota battling breast cancer.

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By Andrea Stockard

Last year, 13-year-old Aila Ikuse and 12-year-old Tova Levine decided that having only one DI team from Bainbridge, Wash., was not going to cut it. The two girls, having already attended Global Finals 2010 for projectOUTREACH, decided their project would be to begin and lead a DI group of five to seven year olds from their neighborhood.

"Many of the other cities we had seen with teams were funded by companies," said Levine. "We thought there should be more teams from our city, and the adult Team Managers needed someone to coach a new team."

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At the Opening Ceremony for this year’s Global Finals, the excitement was palpable. Featuring fireworks, laser light shows and confetti falling on the crowds of the Thompson-Boling Arena, the presentation created an atmosphere of enthusiasm. The participating affiliates showed their pride with noise makers, glow sticks, banners and decorated hats.

After parading around the stadium, these teams prepared to compete in their chosen Challenge by cheering, laughing and watching the spectacles presented at the University of Tennessee. The audience listened and participated with many speakers praising the teams for their innovative thinking, unique skills and the passionate learning that each group utilized in order to get to this final event.

This occasion marks the start of a series of entertaining and fun exhibits that have been set up at Global Finals for the teams to enjoy when they're not competing.