News

Congratulations Destination Imagination

With over 1000 students on 124 teams from across Ohio, Warren City Schools took 5 teams to state level competition for Destination Imagination, 4 from Willard, 1 from Lincoln. While four of the teams showed up and made Warren proud, one of our teams, from Willard, took the challenge of Fine Arts. This challenge ask students to show how something small or simple can make a big impact with a minimalist set. 
These ladies created a storyline that took on heavy topics such as bullying, depression, suicide, abuse, and neglect. 

They depicted a young girl in an abusive/ neglectful household where the mom forgot the child, or belittled her. The main character attended school where her peers would put her down and bully her. The impact of these words continued to push her into dark sadness until she was truly on an edge and voicing the unthinkable. As she contemplated this thought wandering a little hunger dazed, she bumped into someone new, expecting to be yelled at she apologized profusely saying she was just a little hungry and not paying attention. The new character accepted the apology and offered her a pop tart. MC discovered sharing a pop tart with a new friend gave her a glimmer of joy. This new pop tart friendship over the next few days began to provide her hope. A friendship blossomed and a life was changed. All due to the simple act of sharing of a pop tart. A small act of kindness truly can make a huge impact. 

Bringing audience members to tears, wowing judges, while taking on a serious topic in a minimalist way, The Misfit Pencils, of Willard, took 1st place in the entire state of Ohio!!! This win grants them entry to take on other teams from around the world in the Global Competition in May. 
Ohio State Level 2025 First Place Winner in the Fine Arts … 

The Misfit Pencils ✏️ Penny Benner, -Main Character, Haarper Warfield- new friend, Jacklyn Burdick-  Mom, Zaria Creighton- school peer, Raniah Shannon- school peer. 
Team Manager- Nina Vaughn