KNOXVILLE—Internationally renowned motivational speakers Paul Nussbaum and Tamara Kleinberg will join students from around the world in the Destination ImagiNation Global Finals May 23-26 at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
The competition is one of UT’s largest outreach activities of the year and draws about 15,000 elementary, middle, and high school youth to compete in activities that encourage creativity, teamwork, and critical thinking skills.
“Destination Imagination is a fabulous event for our campus,” said UT Conferences executive director Robert Gibbs. “It brings bright and creative youth and adults from around the world and brings needed financial support to the campus as well as numerous hospitality vendors. Destination ImagiNation is truly a win-win for everyone. It is such a pleasure to have so many young people and their leaders visiting our campus celebrating and creativity!”
Nussbaum is an adjunct professor in neurological surgery and a clinical psychologist at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He is the author of Save Your Brain, a book detailing how to improve the overall health and operation of the brain. His work on brain health has been presented at the United Nations, C-SPAN, and the National Press Club.
Kleinberg is the founder of Imaginibbles, an organization that stimulates imagination and creativity through various products and events. Kleinberg also is the author of Think Sideways.
A non-profit organization based in Glassboro, N.J., Destination Imagination has involved more than 1.5 million people from thirty countries in its competitive challenge programs for more than twelve years. Participants compete in tournaments throughout the year, challenging themselves and each other to earn a spot in the annual final competition.
This year, the Innovation Expo at Global Finals will feature exhibitions highlighting creativity and innovation from NASA, Casio, ThinkFun, Texas Instruments, Virginia Tech, Michigan Tech, and Philadelphia University. Through the “Ready-Headset-Go” exhibit and 3M-sponsored “Explore the Uncharted” exhibit, participants can learn more about brain health and environmental sustainability.
UT has hosted Global Finals every year since 2001.
For more information on Destination Imagination, visit the website. For more information on Global Finals, click here.
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C O N T A C T :
Amy Blakely (865-974-5034, ablakely@utk.edu)