May 2014: 1st & 3rd Place Wins at Odyssey of the Mind World Finals

Nysmith’s seventh-grade Odyssey of the Mind team traveled to the 2014 Odyssey of the Mind World Finals in Ames, Iowa, and took the trophy for Third Place in the World!

Odyssey of the Mind competitions require teams to present creative and dramatic solutions to a variety of STEM-related problems. Teams advancing through regional and then state competitions proceed to the World Finals. The World Finals included more than 800 teams from countries around the world, such as teams from China, Korea, Germany, Switzerland, Mexico, Hungary, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Poland.

The seventh-grade Nysmith team, the “Know Brainers,” were making their third consecutive trip to the World Finals. The team includes seventh-graders Ilina G, Maxwell J, Bryce N, Chris N, Landon P, and Anika S. Presenting their solution to the technical problem entitled “The Not So Haunted House,” the team solved the mystery of who stole the Pink Panther diamond from the Louvre gem exhibit. Their creatively-engineered special effects and surprise ending stole the show.

The team also took First Place in the World with their creative solution to the “spontaneous” problem, besting the efforts of 67 other teams in their division from around the world.

Much credit also goes to beloved coach Mr. Marwan N. Congratulations!