The odyssey continues
CENTRAL VALLEY — Ames, Iowa, will be the world’s focus for the 35th annual Odyssey of the Mind competition with three Monroe-Woodbury teams competing following their victories at the OM state competition this past weekend at SUNY Binghamton.
A team representing Monroe-Woodbury High School and two Monroe-Woodbury Middle School teams, which had advanced to state competition, will now compete at Iowa State University May 28 to 31 along with more than 800 teams representing the United States, Europe and Asia.
Odyssey of the Mind, or OM, is an international educational program that provides creative problem-solving opportunities for students from kindergarten through college. Team members apply their creativity to solve problems that range from building mechanical devices to presenting their own interpretation of literary classics.
They bring their solutions to competition on the regional, state, and world level. This competition is the only world competition the Monroe-Woodbury School District participates in.
“Students participating in the Odyssey of the Mind program have always showcased their talent in meeting the 21st Century skills,” said Debra Garling, the district’s Gifted/Talented and OM coordinator. “They are a group that demonstrates an extraordinary capacity for intellectual curiosity, problem solving and collaboration.”
A perfect score
The Division III high school team - which earned a perfect 350 points in regional competition - again earned a perfect 350 points and a first place victory for its problem, “It’s How We Rule.”
One of the Division II middle school teams earned first-place honors and a score of 320.29 for its problem, “The Not-So-Haunted House.”
The second middle school team earned second-place honors and a score of 335.96 for its problem, “It’s How We Rule.”
All second-place teams are allowed to compete in world competition.
'Risk takers and creative thinkers'
That same team also won the prestigious Ranatra Fusca Award, which, according to the national OM web site, is named for the “water strider” insect. The award promotes and recognizes creativity.
“This award represents the essence of the Odyssey of the Mind program,” according to the site. “The Ranatra Fusca Award is given to teams or individuals who display tremendous creativity at competitions. This award serves as an incentive for risk takers and creative thinkers among Odyssey of the Mind participants.”
Specifically, the judges wrote: “This team showed exceptional creativity in the use of reeds to construct a sculpturally correct pair of puppets that portrayed the same ox at two stages of its life (child and adult). The quality and appearance of these puppets were similar to ‘The Lion King’ on stage.
“Creativity was displayed in the integration of the puppets into the story and how they articulated during the performance. Their legs moved rapidly, as though running, as they appeared to pull a covered wagon. This was accomplished without the audience being aware of the puppeteers, integrating seamlessly into the performance.”
Other area teams participating in state competition included groups representing Washingtonville, Warwick, Middletown, Goshen and Chester.
Teamwork
“Creative, unpredictable and sophisticated, these students epitomize the Odyssey of the Mind program and it's their gifted insights and teamwork that bring them here year after year - to compete against the brightest and best in the world,” Garling added. “In addition to the students, I applaud the coaches and parents for their patience, dedication and boundless support.”
By Nancy Kriz