Descriptions of Special Awards
In addition to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards that are related to high scores, NYDI gives special awards for solutions, teamwork, or expressions of character that are outstanding and special.
Appraisal Teams may nominate a team or an individual for an award, as specified below. The award nomination is read and evaluated by a committee appointed by the Tournament Director. If the committee approves the award, then the team will receive medals in recognition of their achievement.
In some circumstances, awards may be granted outside of the context of a Tournament, at the discretion of the Regional Director and Affiliate Director.
The Spirit of Discovery and Imagination Award (Spirit of DI Award)
- The Award:
- From its very beginning, Destination Imagination has been a community. The recipients of this award are those who go out of their way to make sacrifices for others. We recognize and applaud these members of our community who demonstrate outstanding and extraordinary levels of sportsmanship, volunteerism, and spirit, be they Team Managers, team members, officials, or other helpful DI friends and volunteers.
- Criteria:
- This award is given to a team or individual(s) in recognition of those who act as superior role models in the areas of spirit, teamwork, sportsmanship, volunteerism, diversity, equity, and/or inclusion.
The Renaissance Award
- The Award:
- On our journey, we sometimes encounter exceptional travelers who entertain and enlighten us along the way. The Renaissance Award recognizes those among us who demonstrate extraordinary amounts of effort and preparation in their solutions or outstanding skill in engineering, design, or performance. While the destination is creativity, these fellow travelers make the journey itself memorable.
- Criteria:
- This award is given to a team for outstanding skill in the areas of design, engineering, execution, or performance.
The DaVinci Award
- The Award:
- The paths we follow on our journeys were once uncharted and unknown, until someone took a bold step in a new direction and paved a way for us to follow. To solve our Challenges, imagination, creativity, originality, and courage are required. We honor these teams who most clearly demonstrate that spirit of adventurous risk in their solutions—those who most creatively traveled to reach truly new and unique destinations. The DaVinci Award is named to honor one of humanity’s greatest creative thinkers, Leonardo DaVinci.
- Criteria:
- This award is given to a team for having a unique approach to a solution, for risk taking, and/or for outstanding creativity (not necessarily skill or talent).
The Torchbearer Award
- The Award:
- The Service Learning Challenge allows teams to address real community needs in new and innovative ways. Sometimes a team’s approach and Project have a greater impact than anyone envisions. The Torchbearer Award recognizes the extraordinary contributions these teams and their Projects have on the real world.
- Criteria:
- This award honors a team whose solution has had an extraordinary impact in and beyond its
local community.
