Over 800 teams from around the world will compete in the 35thOdyssey of the Mind World Finals; two of those teams will come from Onslow County Schools.
Eight of Onslow County Schools’ teams advanced to the state finals, held April 5, at Wingate University in Charlotte. The OM teams from Dixon Elementary School and New Bridge Middle School performed so well at the state competition, they qualified to move on to the world finals. The teams at the world competition represent the best of the best creative minds.
In Odyssey of the Mind, teams of students work on creative, hands-on problem solving in a competitive environment. Teams compete under one of several long-term problems performed before a panel of judges. Teams are also given a spontaneous problem to solve in a very short period of time. All of the work to solve the long-term problem must be done by the students without any outside assistance, including their coach.
Dixon Elementary Schools’ Odyssey of the Mind team took first place in Division I in It’s How We Rule. New Bridge Middle School took third place in Division II in Drivers Test and they also won a special creativity award which qualified them to move on to the world finals.
At the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals, though the competition is fierce, teams intermingle providing opportunities for students to learn about other cultures and form some lasting friendships. The finals will be held May 28 – 31, at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.