Geilenkirchen Elementary School’s Odyssey of the Mind team finished in the top 25 during the 31st Odyssey of the Mind World Finals, May 26 to 29 in East Lansing, MI, home of Michigan State University. Over 800 teams from all over the world competed in this creative problem-solving competition.

As described on the Odyssey website, only the best of the best make it to World Finals. “Competition was fierce, but there was also a feeling of camaraderie among the competitors,” said Zane Deaton, GK team member. He described the opening and awards ceremonies as being “Olympic-like” in emotion.

The GK team, consisting of Deaton, Grace Herndon, Olivia Lezama, Madison Lynch, Kerry Pollard, Kelsey Pead, and Skye Tomchesson, were among the youngest competitors in their division. Their presentation, called “Discovered Treasures,” featured an ancient artifact from Spain and a delightful leprechaun, played by Grace Herndon.

The GK team worked for eight months in preparation for the event. Stephenie Starkey coached the team, and Ryan Starkey headed the fundraising efforts for the trip. “They worked hard and traveled far, and along the way, they made new friends, learned about different cultures, and stretched their creative abilities to new limits,” Mrs. Starkey said.

Odyssey of the Mind is founded on the idea of innovative thinking and recognizes exceptional creativity through annual competitions worldwide. Check out final scores from this year’s world finals at:
http://odysseyofthemind.com/wf2010/competitions_scores.php.

Published July 9, 2010