Voorheesville team advances to Odyssey of the Mind World Finals

Fundraising efforts scheduled to help support trip

April 23, 2009 – For the second year in a row, a group of students will represent the Voorheesville Central School District at the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals in late May at Iowa State University. Teams from 34 U.S. states and 30 countries will attend the event.

“It’s a dream come true for our team to attend the world finals again this year,” said the team’s coach Jean Mackay. “Last year’s experience motivated them to remain together as a team and go the extra mile in hopes of creating another world class performance.”

The team is made up of sixth-graders from Voorheesville Middle School—Matt Feller, Wolfie Gehring, Sarah Murray, Braeden Morrison, Ben Mackay, Lydia Parker and Alex Relyea.

The group earned the right to compete at world finals after placing first in the “Lost Labor of Heracles,” Division II competition at the New York State championship on April 4. The student’s performed an original mini-play based on the ancient Greek story of Hercules and his classis labors.

The community is invited to see a reenactment of the team’s performance on Monday, May 4, at 7 p.m. in the Voorheesville High School Commons.

Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational program that provides creative problem-solving opportunities for students from kindergarten through college. Students apply their creativity to solve problems that range from building mechanical devices to presenting their own interpretation of literary classics. They then bring their solutions to competition at the local, state and world level.

Support the team at upcoming fundraising events

While it is a great honor to attend the world finals, it is also very expensive. The cost per student, coach and chaperones is nearly $1,000 each for registration, accommodations and travel expenses.

The team’s fundraising goal is approximately $11,000. So far, the group has received a generous contribution of $4,000 from the Voorheesville Board of Education and Voorheesville PTA.

To make up the difference, the following fundraising activities have been organized by parents of team members.

• Duct Tape Faculty to the Wall
  Tuesday, April 28, 7 p.m., High School Gym
  Join us for some half-time fun at the Voorheesville faculty vs. CYO coaches basketball game as the team duct tapes select Voorheesville faculty to the wall.
   

• The Great Odyssey Raffle
  Saturday, May 2, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. at Crossgates Mall and Sunday, May 10, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at Emma Cleary’s
  Win great gifts for Mother’s Day or for yourself to area restaurants, hotels and retail shops, including Provence, The Desmond, Gold Coin, The Melting Pot, Dominick’s Pizza, Tollgate Ice Cream and much more. Afrims has donated one free week of soccer camp and EMS has donated one free kayak rental. More than 40 gift cards will be raffled.
   

• Car Wash and Bake Sale
  Saturday, May 9, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Hannaford Plaza