Odyssey of the Mind Teams Place in State Competition

Westchester Country Day School’s Odyssey of the Mind teams both finished strong in the state tournament within their divisions.

The Division Three team achieved a first place finish in the Virtual Odyssey problem and qualified to advance to the World Finals competition in June.

Members of the Division Three team are seniors Jamie Atkinson, Kate Leonard, Mikey Schwartz and Emma Whitlock, and juniors Kate Dyson, Sophia Singer and Katie Todd.

Two team members also were awarded scholarships in the competition. Schwartz received NCOM’s Susan Lawson Memorial Scholarship. Atkinson received NCOM’s Lester and Athelene Carter Memorial Scholarship and a Creative Opportunities Unlimited Scholarship.

The Division Two team of fifth graders James Collins and Josie Cranfill, and sixth graders Whit Hauser, Emma Leonard and Coleman Schwartz came in third place in the Super Socks problem.

In a typical year, competitions take place in person, but in light of precautions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the state competition was held virtually with the teams submitting videos of their entries.

Odyssey of the Mind is a creative problem-solving program that teaches students to think differently while creating solutions to long-term, open-ended problems. The worldwide program presents new problems each year for teams to work together on solving. These problems appeal to a range of interests and include building vehicles or structures, creating devices, or giving performances from classical literature or a specific theme that incorporates humorous elements. Solutions to these problems engage students in using ideas from science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM). Competitions reward creativity and thinking outside the box.

Watch the solutions the teams presented in the virtual competitions at the links below:

Division Two - Super Socks

Division Three - Virtual Odyssey