What a wonderful weekend for our Odyssey of the Mind teams that headed to Syracuse for the state competition on Friday.
Our Crispell Middle School team finished third in its division of 11 teams. Pakanasink Elementary School and Pine Bush High School finished fourth in their respective divisions of 20 and 17 teams.
We won’t be heading to the world competition in 2023. However, this adventure has been absolutely amazing for these kids who put everything into this wonderful program called Odyssey of the Mind. The experience has been priceless!
A big thank you to our coaches and our program coordinator, Lori Stapleton. The gifts you shared with your teams will never be forgotten and always treasured!
Two of our Pine Bush OMers received special awards prior to the state tournament!
2023 NYSOMA Scholarship: Meryl Palinkas
NYSOMA sponsors a scholarship program for participants in Odyssey of the Mind in New York. The award is $1,000. This year, applicants had to create an entertaining and creative video that shows teams everything they need to know about the Odyssey tournament. Meryl really rose to the challenge, and produced a fantastic video.
She has been a part of the Odyssey program for eight years. She has been to the state tournament five times and went to worlds three times. Meryl says that “Odyssey of the Mind has been the most formative, endurance-testing, friendship-building, creative, incredible experience” she could ever have put herself through. “It isn’t really just an afterschool club, it’s a lifestyle and culture.”
Meryl plans to attend Ithaca College this fall, as an Art History major. Congratulations Meryl and thank you for all you’ve give to our Odyssey of the Mind program.
2023 Emerging Alumni Award – Jenna Hopmayer
Congratulations also to Jenna Hopmayer, a junior at PBHS. She was one of two local students to receive the 2023 Emerging Alumni Award from Creative Opportunities, Inc. This award recognizes current sophomore and junior OMers who donate their time in giving back to Odyssey of the Mind programs.
Jenna was a mentor to our youngest OMers at PBE this season, lending her artistic design expertise to them in a variety of ways. She will receive a $250 gift card and have an Odyssey of the Mind membership donated in her name to a program in need. Congratulations Jenna!