Destination Imagination (DI), a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering students' curiosity, courage and creativity through open-ended STEM, fine arts and service learning challenges, announced its partnership with Buzz Aldrin’s ShareSpace Foundation (SSF), a non-profit that addresses science literacy by igniting children’s passion for science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) through delivering hands-on activities, inspirational messages and Innovation Kits.
 
“SSF’s focus on STEM and cultivating the imaginations and passions of children makes them the ideal strategic partner for our organization,” said Dr. Chuck Cadle, CEO of Destination Imagination, Inc. “Through the shared passions and missions of our organizations, we are able to provide opportunities for our students to hone their creative solution skills and become the next generation of leaders.”
President of SSF and Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin will help officially launch Global Finals 2015 at the welcome ceremony on Wednesday, May 20, as well as host an Interactive Intergalactic Experience Q & A Workshop on Thursday, May 21 where Aldrin will share stories from his Apollo 11 moon landing and space walk on Gemini 12.
“Working in partnership with DI is the ideal opportunity to deliver SSF’s mission of igniting student’s passion for innovation,” said Linn LeBlanc, executive director of SSF. “We are hoping to assist DI in fostering the creativity and passion for innovation in the participants at Global Finals.”
Global Finals 2015, held May 20-23 in Knoxville, Tennessee, is the culminating international competition for the Destination Imagination season. At the event more than 1,400 teams from around the world are invited to participate in one of six different academic challenges to showcase their skills in creativity and innovation.
 
For more information on the workshops and exhibits at Global Finals, visit www.globalfinals.org.
 
About Buzz Aldrin’s ShareSpace Foundation: Buzz Aldrin’s ShareSpace Foundation (SSF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which addresses science literacy by igniting children’s passion for science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM). By delivering hands-on activities, inspirational messages and Innovation Kits, SSF encourages young people to develop a lifelong, life-changing love for, and potentially a career in STEAM. For more information or to support our efforts, visit www.ShareSpace.org or call 321-783-6836.
 
About Buzz Aldrin: Selected by NASA to become an astronaut in 1963, Aldrin made his first space flight with James Lovell on Gemini 12. On July 20, 1969, Aldrin and Neil Armstrong became the first two humans to set foot on another world, when they made their historic Apollo 11 moonwalk.
 
About Destination Imagination
Destination Imagination, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) volunteer-led non-profit organization whose purpose is to inspire and equip students to become the next generation of innovators and leaders. The most popular education offering is the Challenge Program, where student teams solve open-ended STEM, arts and service learning Challenges and present their solutions to trained appraisers. Founded in 1982, Destination Imagination has impacted more than 1.5 million students. To learn more, please visit http://www.destinationimagination.org/.