The Queensbury Middle School Odyssey of the Mind team won first place at the New York State Regional 6 tournament in Glens Falls on March 7. The team won first place for Problem 1, division 2 “Off the Rails,” and will compete at the state tournament on March 21 in Syracuse.
Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational program that encourages students to use creativity, teamwork and problem-solving skills to tackle unique challenges.
Team members include: Molly Kirker, Hannah Elmore, Abbagayle Tripp, Anastazia Watson, Rosetta Mastantuono, Kynlee Keast and Eloise Walajtys. The team is coached by Emily Mosher and Heidi Elmore.
Molly Kirker took home the special medal and the OMAR award for perseverance and teamwork.
A creative problem solving program, Odyssey of the Mind encourages divergent thinking as teams use creativity and teamwork to solve unique problems, according to nyodyssey.org. OM brings the classroom to life as students apply what they learn and combine it with their interests and passions. The program emphasizes teamwork, budgeting, time management, public speaking and more.
Odyssey of the Mind teams work throughout the school year on solutions to one of six long-term problems, according to the website. The process often involves building devices, performing skits, or solving engineering challenges. These are then presented in the form of an 8-minute performance at a regional competition. Regional winners advance to State Finals and then compete again hoping to represent New York at the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals.