Ashdown DI Teams

05/29/2026

🏆 LAST BUT NOT LEAST THE TEAM MANAGER OF YOUR 2026 GLOBAL FINALS CHAMPIONS!

We’ve met the brilliant students, but now it’s time to shine the ultimate spotlight on our fearless leader and the true heart behind this team—**Suzanne Ward**! ❤️🌟

Suzanne is the absolute backbone of our program, dedicating countless hours to these kids and pouring her whole soul into their success. She is our resident "Spreadsheet Queen," masterminding the logistics and figuring out exactly what it takes every single year to make these kids' biggest dreams a reality. 📊👑

She is the perfect blend of mentoring and drive that our kids need, standing as a huge example of what true hard work and dedication look like. When she isn't mapping out our next big move, you can usually find her personally writing and addressing thank you cards to every single supporter who helps our program thrive. ✍️💌

What makes it all truly incredible? She does all of this on top of being an amazing mom and working a demanding, full-time job that often includes heaps of unpaid overtime. 💼💪

Suzanne has made a profound, lasting impact on this team, and our historic journey to the Global Finals championship simply wouldn't have happened without her guidance, sacrifice, and love. Thank you for being our champion behind the scenes! We appreciate you more than words can say! 🥳🖤💛

05/28/2026

🏆 MEET THE TEAM: 2026 GLOBAL FINALS CHAMPIONS! 🏆

​Next up in our championship spotlight is our steady, cool-headed leader, Kyla Wright! 🌟

​Kyla is the daughter of Kelly and Emily Wright. Every great team needs a voice of reason, and Kyla is exactly that for us! She is a student at Ashdown Jr. High, where she plays clarinet in the band. When she’s not keeping everyone on track at practice, she is busy teaching herself the trumpet and trombone, or off chasing the thrills of a good roller coaster! 🎶🎺🎢

​Kyla was one of the big brains behind our technical game board this season, using her smarts to help bring our whole vision to life. But she didn't just stay behind the scenes, she traded her quiet leader hat to take center stage as our Infinity Game Show Host! Even though she absolutely hates having her picture taken, she is a total rockstar on stage and an indispensable part of this crew. In fact, we are pretty sure she is already busy plotting out the winning strategy for next year's DI challenge! 🧠🎙️✨

​Thank you for your leadership, your brilliant mind, and for helping guide this team all the way to a Global Finals championship, Kyla! 🥳🖤💛

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05/28/2026

🏆 MEET THE TEAM: 2026 GLOBAL FINALS CHAMPIONS! 🏆

Next up in our championship spotlight is the creative, passionate, and witty **Andrew Ward**! 🌟

Andrew is the son of Suzanne Spain Ward. While DI might not always be his first choice, this team sure appreciates everything he does for us! He has a hand in most projects whether he is supervising the crew or rolling up his sleeves to get the job done. But honestly, what else would you expect from the team manager's kid? 🛠️📋

Andrew is a student at Arkansas Virtual Academy. When he isn't helping out the team, he's a dedicated gamer and even plays the accordion! He also brings tons of fun energy and personality to every single thing we do the journey definitely wouldn't be the same without him. 🎮🪗✈️

Next up for Andrew is a whole new chapter, as he makes the move up to high school next year! 🚀🎓

Thank you for your hard work, your great sense of humor, and for being such a fun part of this Global Finals championship run, Andrew! Good luck in high school! 🥳🖤💛

05/28/2026

🏆 MEET THE TEAM: 2026 GLOBAL FINALS CHAMPIONS! 🏆

Next up in our championship spotlight is the incredibly creative and fun-loving 💫**Rayla Starks**!

Rayla is the daughter of David & Jennifer Formby, and Nick Starks. She is a true artist at heart who loves painting, drawing, and crocheting. When she isn't working on her latest masterpiece, you can usually find her out on the water paddle boarding or packed up and ready for her next traveling adventure! 🎨🧶🏄‍♀️✈️

Rayla brings so much joy and personality to our group, and her creativity absolutely shined this season. She was a big part of the hands on process of building our technical game board, and when it came time for the performance, she completely slayed in her blue alien makeup and brought her character to life on stage! 👽🧩

We are so proud of you, Rayla! Thank you for bringing so much artistic flair, hard work, and fun energy to this championship team! 🥳🖤💛

05/27/2026

🏆 MEET THE TEAM: 2026 GLOBAL FINALS CHAMPIONS! 🏆

​Next up in our championship spotlight is our tech mastermind, Shane Novak! 🌟

​Shane is the son of Joey and Cari Jo Novak. When he isn’t diving into tech projects, he is an amazing big brother to his sister, Harper, and he loves competing in Final Fantasy card game competitions! 🃏⚔️

​Shane brought some serious skill to our presentation this season as the creative designer and programmer behind the cyber truck used in our big game show reveal. It was such a fun element to the show!

​While we are sad to see him leave the team, he is definitely leaving on the ultimate high note as a Global Champion. Shane and his family are actually moving back to Missouri, which just happens to be the home of Global Finals! He has a lot of exciting things ahead, especially as he looks forward to jumping into Science Olympiad and competitive band. We are going to miss him tons, but since he's heading to the home of Globals, we sure hope to see him again.....maybe even at next year's competition! 🚀🤖🎷

​Thank you for everything you brought to the team, Shane! We wish you the absolute best on your move to Missouri! 🥳🖤💛

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05/27/2026

🏆 MEET THE TEAM: 2026 GLOBAL FINALS CHAMPIONS! 🏆

​Next up in our championship spotlight is 🌟Jackson Norman! 🌟

​Jack is the son of Jeremy and Holly Norman, and he’s a proud big brother to his little brother Charlie, who he hopes to mentor into his own Global Finals Championship. If you’re looking for Jack, your absolute best bet is to check the nearest baseball field because he spends every spare second he can playing the game! On top of battling it out on the diamond, he just wrapped up the 6th grade and stayed busy this past school year playing in the beginner band. ⚾️🎺

​When it comes to DI, Jack loves a little bit of everything—from the hands-on thrill of woodworking, and running power tools, to the excitement of pin trading! But when competition time came around, Jack suited up in costume as our team robot, tracking the score for the contestants and totally rocking the role with the perfect stage energy! 🤖🪚📊📌

​We are so incredibly glad you were there to share in this massive Global Finals journey and celebrate this big win with the team, Jack! 🥳🖤💛

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05/27/2026

🏆 MEET THE TEAM: 2026 GLOBAL FINALS CHAMPIONS! 🏆

Let’s give a massive shoutout to the youngest powerhouse on our championship team **Kyler Ford**! 🌟

Kyler is the son of Dustin and Shandi Ford, and he shares his busy household with three awesome siblings. Talk about punching above your weight class, Kyler competed beautifully at the Junior level this year while still wrapping up elementary school!

When it comes to DI challenge solutions, Kyler is our go to guy for all things wiring and electrical. He absolutely loves getting hands on, running wires, and helping bring the team's tech ideas to life. When he isn't crushing it at DI or shining in the local GT program, you can usually find him out on the baseball field playing the game he loves. ⚡️🔌⚾️

**What’s Next for Kyler?**

This summer, he bids farewell to elementary school because this fall, he’s heading to Ashdown Junior High to start the 6th grade!

We are so incredibly proud of you, Kyler, and we can't wait to see you conquer junior high just like you conquered Global Finals! 🥳🖤💛

05/27/2026

Destination Imagination 2026 Global Finals: The "Railroad Game" Limited Edition Pin

​All aboard! Commemorate Ashdown DI’s epic journey to the 2026 Global Finals with this exclusive, limited-edition collectible.

​Featuring the iconic "Railroad" technical game board, this single-pin release beautifully captures the spirit of strategy, innovation, and teamwork. With its intricate details and a distinct touch of magic, it’s the perfect addition for dedicated pin traders, train enthusiasts, and game lovers alike.

​Don't miss your chance to own a piece of Ashdown DI history from the 2026 tournament—once they're gone, they're gone!

05/26/2026