Local odyssey winners take on the world

ALTOONA — Six teams of northeast Pennsylvania’s most creative thinkers are on their way to World Finals for Odyssey of the Mind, a creative problem-solving competition, after winning at Pennsylvania State Finals at the Altoona Area School District in April. Three northeast teams were crowned state champions. Taking first place were Delaware Valley High School in division III for problem 4, “Tee Structure”; Dingman Delaware Middle School in division II for problem 5, “The Eccentrics!”; and Abington Heights High School Team B in division III for problem 5. Three others took second place, Coolbaugh Elementary School in division I for problem 1, “Odyssey Road Rally”; Abington Heights Middle School Team A in division II for problem 2, “DinoStories”; and Waverly Elementary School in division I for problem 4. The first- and second-placing teams will compete at the 29th annual Odyssey of the Mind World Finals at the University of Maryland from May 31 to June 3. They will compete against teams from across the United States and around the world, including teams from China, Cuba, Germany, Japan and Singapore. Four other teams received third place, Abington Heights HS Team A in division III, problem 1; Abington Heights HS Team B in division III, problem 2; Coolbaugh ES in division I, problem 4; and Abington Heights MS Team A in division II, problem 4. Odyssey of the Mind is an international non-profit creative problem-solving competition for students in kindergarten through college, which emphasizes teamwork and quick thinking. For more information, visit the NEPA Odyssey of the Mind website at www.nepaootm.com.