The final odyssey is complete
CENTRAL VALLEY Their final odyssey is now complete.
Returning home this past Monday evening after a week of creative competitions were the five Monroe-Woodbury Odyssey of the Mind teams, with two teams placing in the top 10 and three in the top 20 for their originality, collaborative efforts, cleverness and resolve to present a solution to a problem.
They had a wonderful time taking part in this event that celebrates creativity, teamwork, ingenuity and perseverance, said a very pleased Debra Garling, the districts Gifted/Talented coordinator who oversees Odyssey of the Mind.
The teams left on their final odyssey on May 21, showing their determination to represent the Monroe-Woodbury School District by spending four days on a chartered bus to travel 2,270 miles round-trip to Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.
This past week has meant so much to the whole team, wrote Monroe-Woodbury High School OMer Saharsh Hajela in a note to The Photo News. It served as a reward for the hard work and effort that we put in throughout the entire year. Each and every one of us loves Odyssey, and being able to perform at worlds was an honor.
Eight months The teams tenacity was also demonstrated by their fund-raising efforts to raise more than $20,000 from the community to supplement the districts budgeted amount available to them. Officials guarantee that funds not used this year will be set aside and available for any teams going to world competition next year.
Their commitment to their creative and imaginative sport began last fall when tryouts were held and coaches selected students from hundreds who auditioned. This school year, only 10 Odyssey of the Mind teams were allocated due to cuts in school budget. Fewer teams meant those 10 teams were richer in talent.
Teams competed in regional competitions at Orange Ulster BOCES, and those who won advanced to state finals at SUNY Binghamton.
Odyssey of the Mind is the only national competition that the Monroe-Woodbury School District participates in and this was the first time in the districts 33 year OM history that five teams qualified for world competition.
And eight months from the time they initially auditioned, those 35 students, coaches and chaperones gave up their four day Memorial Day weekend to compete against other teams nationwide and from 25 countries. High school seniors even gave up attending their May 24 senior prom and related events to be part of the world competition.
These teams have been working tirelessly since early October to create a problem solution that is as entertaining as it is unusual, said Garling. Monroe-Woodbury brought creativity to life at this years world finals.
By Nancy Kriz