California Scholarships

Offers two different college scholarships:

The Creative Essay Scholarship, awarded based on youth “essays”. Read More about the Essay  scholarship HERE

The Justin Kissel Scholarship, awarded for service, based on adult nominations. Read More about the Justin Kissel scholarship HERE.

Read more information or to contact the California Destination Imagination Scholarship Committee.

Destination Imagination Scholarships

 Destination Imagination Support Committee Scholarships 

DISC will again offer up to $30,000 in creativity and volunteerism scholarships to deserving candidates.

 More information is available on the DISC website.

California Scholarships

The 2020 California Creative Essay Recipient!

Caroline Liebe

This year’s recipient,  Caroline Liebe, highlighted how she has learned “to think outside of the box.” She takes common items that are easily available and uses them in innovative ways to solve challenges she encounters in her everyday life.

We look forward to seeing where her creative “out of the box” thinking takes her!

My Destination Imagination Experience

Hi! I’m Caroline Liebe and I’m 18 years old. I started doing Destination Imagination in fourth grade at Marengo Elementary School. Already after the first few meetings I knew that this was the thing for me. Instant challenges and building and performing was something that I had not really tried before, and I loved it! Over the years, it has been really interesting to see how the solutions that my team and I made started out more simple and grew more and more complex as our creativity flourished. Some of my favorite solutions have been using a string and a nail clipper to stop a car from moving once it reached a certain target zone, making a snake tamer out of an old electric car antenna, unlocking boxes and retrieving objects by completing an electrical circuit, making a motion-detected creature talk, building a 20-foot seesaw that could transport a team member across a stage, and finally, using ultrasound to navigate through a random maze. Participating in Destination Imagination for seven years has allowed me to use my creativity to brainstorm solutions to complex challenges, enhancing my problem-solving, critical thinking, time-management, teamwork, and leadership skills. DI has taught me to always think outside of the box, a lesson that I know will serve me well in life. I plan to attend UC Irvine in the fall, and although I have not yet declared a major, I know that I will use everything that I have learned from my time in DI to succeed in my studies. The life-long memories that I have acquired through building a solution each year and competing at the tournaments are some that I will remember for the rest of my life. Running down to the stage at the Thompson Boling Arena in Knoxville to receive 3rd place at Global Finals in 2016 was the biggest moment of my life! I am so thankful for all of the awesome opportunities that Destination Imagination has given me!

California Creativity Essay Scholarship

The California Creativity Association is a non-profit corporation, working as an Affiliate of Destination Imagination®, Inc., to offer a creative problem solving program within the state. Together the two organizations nurture and celebrate creativity, develop team problem-solving skills, and promote divergent thinking for participants of all ages throughout California. The California Creativity Association encourages people to seek help when acquiring skills and to look within themselves for inspiration. With the skills of creativity, self-respect, cooperation, and understanding of others, participants will use their knowledge to travel uncharted paths to help make the world a better place in which to live.

This scholarship program has been established to assist one (or more) deserving students achieve their educational goals. This year the scholarship will be awarded based on a “Creative Essay” written and submitted by applicants.

Eligibility

  • To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must have participated as a team member on a California Creativity Destination Imagination competitive team for at least one Destination Imagination program year.
  • Applicants must also be California high school seniors seeking, or California college/university students continuing, a post-secondary education.
  • Previous recipients are not eligible.

Applications

  • Applications for the 2023 California Creativity Essay Scholarship should be submitted to:
    • California Creativity Scholarship Committee
      C/O Richard C. Pinney
      14843 Priscilla St.
      San Diego CA 92129
    • Or electronically to 
      dpinney@caldi.org

The Scholarship Committee must receive applications and “Creative Essays” no later than one week prior to the California Affiliate Tournament. Please include a photograph of the Nominee that can be used in the Tournament Slide Show. Applications and submissions for the 2023 California Essay Scholarship are due March 27, 2023.

  • The Scholarship Committee will review all applications in order to select one or more qualified recipient(s). This Scholarship may not necessarily be awarded every year, at the discretion of the Scholarship Committee.
  • Recipients will be recognized at the California Affiliate Tournament Closing Ceremony. Recipients that are not present will be notified after the tournament.
Click Here for Form

Justin Kissel Scholarship

Justin Kissel was a giant among us! He gave his time and energy freely and unconditionally to our community and numerous charitable organizations. Justin never knew a stranger. He was always looking for ways to assist others and make their lives easier. Justin was quick to volunteer to help anyone, even the friends he had yet to meet. If a job needed doing Justin was ready and willing to see that it was accomplished, always exceeding anyone else’s expectations. No matter how early, late, or long he worked, Justin always had a smile and joke to share. He was happy to be helping those around him, and expected nothing in return, other than the pleasure of spending time with his friends. Since Justin enjoyed a good challenge, he accepted the tremendous task of training the Regional Score Room Challenge Masters as well as organizing and running the Score Room for the California Creativity State Tournament from 1999 through 2001. He did this with style, grace, and wisdom far beyond his 17 years. Justin had a quick wit and charm that he shared with us all. As a State Challenge Master, Volunteer, and Friend, Justin was impressive and a true inspiration to all who knew him. He gave selflessly and generously to society and our community until his untimely passing December 24, 2002.

This scholarship has been established to assist one or more deserving students achieve their educational goals. Adults are encouraged to nominate students they perceive to be walking in Justin’s footsteps – those of a giant volunteer.

Eligibility

  • California high school seniors seeking, or college/university students continuing, a post-secondary education.
  • Students who have volunteered their time and energy for their community and California Creativity, Inc.
  • Previous recipients are not eligible.

Selection Criteria

  • Nominated by an adult.
  • Recommended by a California Regional or Affiliate Director.
  • Recipients will be chosen based on their extraordinary service to their community and California Creativity, Inc.

Nominations

  • Nominations for the 2023 Justin Kissel Scholarship should be submitted to:
    • California Creativity Scholarship Committee
      C/O Richard C. Pinney
      14843 Priscilla St.
      San Diego CA 92129-1524
    • Or electronically to dpinney@caldi.org
  • The Scholarship Committee must receive nominations no later than one week prior to the California Affiliate Tournament. Please include a photograph of the Nominee that can be used in the Tournament Slide Show. Nominations for the 2023 Justin Kissel Scholarship are due March 27, 2023. 
  • The Scholarship Committee will review all nominations in order to select one or more qualified recipient(s). This Scholarship may not necessarily be awarded every year, at the discretion of the Scholarship Committee.
  • Recipients will be recognized at the California Affiliate Tournament Closing Ceremony. Recipients that are not present will be notified after the tournament.
Click here for the form

Destination Imagination Support Committee Scholarships

DISC will again offer up to $30,000 in creativity and volunteerism scholarships to deserving candidates.

To be eligible, Scholarship Applicants:

  • Be graduating from high school or currently pursuing a post High School degree in a Trade School, Community College or University.
  • Be accepted at a college/university or other post-secondary educational institution and planning to attend in the school year 2020-2021. Proof of acceptance will be required before award can be disbursed.
  • Must have participated in at least one of the creative problem solving programs that Destination Imagination has sponsored, as a team member and/or in a volunteer capacity.
  • Be actively continuing his or her involvement in Destination Imagination in some capacity, either as a team member or as a volunteer.

For the DISC Scholarship search, it is the applicant’s CREATIVITY and involvement that are deemed most important. We want to see our applicants use their creativity and divergent thinking! The most weight in our scoring is applied to the creativity and usefulness of the solution to our challenges, and the past and continued involvement of the applicant.

We wish all of our scholars luck and creativity in their endeavors!