Odyssey of the Mind team places third at World Finals

The Voorheesville Odyssey of the Mind team prepares to take the stage for their final performance.

Omer, the Odyssey of the Mind mascot, pauses for a photo with the team.

The Voorheesville Odyssey of the Mind Team is pictured with their trophy.

June 4, 2009 – Congratulations to sixth-graders Matt Feller, Wolfie Gehring, Ben Mackay, Braeden Morrison, Sarah Murray, Lydia Parker and Alex Relyea, for placing third at the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals, May 27-30, at Iowa State University.

The group competed against 45 teams in the The Lost Labor of Heracles, Division II competition.

"Our victory is not solely a celebration of the team's success, but one to be shared by the greater school community," said the team's coach Jean MacKay. "It's a tribute to the generosity, academic excellence and passion for lifelong learning that is cultivated within the Voorheesville school district."

From the opening ceremonies to the competitions and the event’s creativity festival, World Finals was a great celebration of creative problem-solving and teamwork.

Nearly 800 teams from around the United States and fifteen countries attended. Unfortunately a number of international teams did not attend due to the swine flu outbreak.

"The competition was steep, yet in the spirit of Odyssey of the Mind, teams cheered for each other, helped each other and congratulated each other's outstanding scenery, props, costumes and performances," said MacKay.

Although the team was not paired with an international “buddy” team,  they enjoyed meeting a number of international students and even traded t-shirts and vests with their counterparts from Korean and Hong Kong, who are now sporting New York and Voorheesville t-shirts.

Look for Odyssey of the Mind sign ups for 2009-2010 in the fall.
 

Archived News

May 13, 2009: Odyssey of the Mind team reaches fundraising goal: Team headed to World Finals in Iowa on May 27

April 23, 2009: Voorheesville team advances to Odyssey of the Mind World Finals: Fundraising efforts scheduled to support trip