WCPSS Teams Compete in Odyssey of the Mind 2009 World Finals
June 10, 2009 - Three Wake County Public School teams of students took part in Odyssey of the Mind® 2009 World Finals at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa on May 27 – 30.The teams of students represented Joyner Elementary, Partnership Elementary and Wakefield Middle School. The teams worked throughout the school year solving an Odyssey of the Mind problem and were judged as the most creative in a series of rigorous competitions to earn the trip to the World Finals.
At the World Finals, the team of students from Joyner Elementary earned a total score of 302.09 points for a sixth place finish in Problem 1, Earth Trek Division I. In the Earth Trek problem, teams designed and built vehicles that appear to travel around the globe visiting its many unique environments. They also put their creative ideas to good use by solving a potential problem facing the planet. At the state competition, the Joyner team came in first in the Earth Trek problem. The team included Brienna Kane, Amelia Flick, Kendall Stephenson, Noah Giroux, Alexandra Lopez-Vazquez, and Ann Cannon Hoover. This team was coached by Myra Kane and Lauren Rockwell.
At the World Finals, the A team of students from Wakefield Middle earned a total score of 290.09 points for a ninth place finish in Problem 3, the Lost Labor of Heracles, Division II. In the Classics. . . The Lost Labor of Heracles, teams learned about Greek mythology and created a “lost” labor for Heracles. They also recreated ancient Greek art and costume.The team included Michelle Fenstermaker, Emma Furr, Nate Furr, Emily Stark, Daniel Burnell, Jacob Lenox, and Alex Fluke. They are coached by Michelle Furr and Janet Stark.
At the World Finals, the team of students from Partnership Elementary earned a total of 168.00 points for a 25th place finish in Problem 4, Shock Waves, Division I. In the Shockwaves problem, 18 grams of balsa wood and glue are designed into structures that have been known to hold thousands of pounds. This year the structure must withstand “shockwaves” from falling objects all while continuing to hold weight. At the state competition, the Partnership team came in second in the Shockwaves problem. The team includes Carol Seigler, Riley Falk, Ginger Dudley, Julianne Cinoman, Kelvin Graham, Rhett Dudley and Hannah Koszegi. Coaches are Kathy Garnier and Mary Hunter Martin. The weight loader is Chris Trotto.
These problems are judged on creativity and risk-taking. The students learn to apply their creativity to problem solving. Teams also learn how to manage time and money, how to share ideas and negotiate with one another, and to perform in front of an audience. Because the problems provide for divergent solutions, students incorporate their knowledge and interests into Odyssey of the Mind such as math, history, art, music, science, acrobatics, athletics, robotics, and anything else a child can imagine and enjoy. This prepares them for the future as well as gives them a fun outlet to express their creativity.
More than 850 teams from throughout the U. S. and 15 other countries including China, South Korea, Poland, Germany, Singapore, and Mexico worked hard and traveled far to attend the three-day event. Along the way, they made new friends, learned about different cultures, and stretched their creative abilities to new limits.
-wcpss-