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Five SCCPSS teams will advance to the 2008 Odyssey of the Mind World Finals after winning at the state competition held this past weekend at Columbus State University.
Two teams from Savannah Arts Academy, one team from DeRenne Middle School, one team from Marshpoint Elementary, and one team from Islands Elementary earned the right to compete in the world finals at the University of Maryland May 31-June 3, 2008.
The teams will join over 500 teams from all over the world to compete in 5 creative problems.
DeRenne Middle School’s Odyssey of the Mind team placed 1st in the state competition. Team members Molly Alexander, Jacob Awad, Kimberly Buice, Maleeka Flowers, Nick Fruit, Esther Medrano, and Shahil Patel scored highest in their problem “The Eccentrics.” The problem is sponsored by NASA.
Savannah Arts Academy’s "Eccentrics" Odyssey of the Mind team also placed 1st at the state level. Team members Ben Tantanella, Carley Reed, Spencer Tootle, John Gale, Alee Hoshor, Rachel Shaner, and Phillip Moore scored highest in their problem in the high school division. Their problem was also sponsored by NASA. SAA's "Wonderful Muses" team placed 2nd in their problem and division. Those team members are Zach Awad, Lizzie Clanton, Taylor Mackie, Toni Paruso, Alex Wasily, Rachael Westmoreland, and Aeriel Whitworth. Both teams will compete in the world finals.
Islands Elementary School team won 1st place in their division for "The Wonderful Muses" problem solution. This team also won the "Renatra Fusca" award, a prestigious award given for exceptional creativity. The team members are Jasmyne Hester, Morgan Hahan, Ami Palmer, Malcolm Williams-Green, and Qweita Eastman.
The fifth grade team at Marshpoint Elementary won 2nd place in their division. They wrote the script, designed all the props and costumes, and performed “The Eccentrics,” a NASA sponsored problem dealing with the earth’s spheres. The members of the team are Madeline Kelso, Emily Iocovozzi, Michaiah Singleton, Andrew Riegner, Michael Faulkner, Logan Hindman, and Gabriel Goings.
Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational program that provides creative problem-solving opportunities for students from kindergarten through college. Students work in teams learning cooperation and respect for the ideas of others. They evaluate ideas and make decisions on their own, gaining greater self-confidence and increased self-esteem along the way. For more information on the local, state and regional Odyssey of the Mind competitions, visit their website at www.georgiaodyssey.org.
