Dover School Places First
Central Middle School in Dover Places First in the World in Odyssey of the Mind Competition
Indian River School District Places Second in Similar Division Competition
Dover, Del.–May 25, 2005 Yesterday, Capital School District’s Central Middle School in Dover accomplished something that not too many other schools across the planet can brag about—taking first place in the World Odyssey of the Mind Competition. This is the first time that a Delaware school has ever placed first in the annual world Odyssey competition!
Darren Guido, Ed.D., principal at Central Middle School was elated when he learned of his school’s triumph over the rest of the world. “I learned about our victory early this morning and it is truly great to know that our students won their division. Central Middle students came in first over all other students in the world and this is very impressive." Added Dr. Guido, “There are so many great things going on in our school and this further validates all we are doing to provide our students with an enriched education.”
The Central Middle students who participated in their division and problem in the world competition were: Cooper Asay, Hannah Lindsey, Andrew Davis, Gina DeFrancesco, Jessie Girgis, April Chestnut and Erik Towne.The Central team coach is Trudean Davis. A total of 765 teams from around the world joined Delaware at this year’s competition,including students from Belarus; China; Czech Republic; El Salvador; Germany; Hungary; Japan; Kazakhstan; Mexico, Poland; Russia; Singapore and Slovakia.
The Indian River School District sent a team of students to both the state and world competition and placed second in their problem and division. The students and schools they represented were:Kyle Marvel, Southern Delaware School of the Arts, Joseph Garvilla, East Millsboro Elementary, Drew Stewart, Long Neck Elementary, G. Jay Christian Jr., Frankford Elementary, Cameron Dukes, North Georgetown Elementary,Elaina Layell, Frankford Elementary, and Kourtney Bastianelli, North Georgetown Elementary. Team coaches were Lisa Forney and Bryna Groveston.
In their particular problem and division, the Central Middle School students were tasked to design, build and run two original Stunt Mobile vehicles that would travel from behind a designated start line and traverse over five obstacle courses. The Stunt Mobile was required to operate on different power systems and had to overcome different obstacles to cross a finish line and then break three balloons.
For the Indian River problem, the team were asked to create a performance that included a dream that at times would be cheerful, non-sensical, and nightmarish.The nightmare had to include a monster designed and built by the team that changed in appearance and performed various tasks.
“The students have been working on their Odyssey problem since last September,” said Debora Hansen, Education Associate for Visual and Performing Arts at the Department of Education.“All during the school year, students spent an enormous amount of time and effort preparing long term solutions for Delaware’s state competition.First place state teams, consisting of no more than seven students per team, then moved on to the world competition in Boulder.”Added Hansen, “In creating their solution to the problem, students could spend no more than $140 on materials. Their props, scenery and costumes were then shipped to Colorado for this week’s competition.”
Additionally, all 17 teams that represented Delaware at the World Odyssey received the Creativity Award for their creative thinking activity as part of the Odyssey of the Mind festival.This is the first time that Delaware students captured this prestigious honor, as well.
Delaware’s Odyssey of the Mind program has grown tremendously in the last five years—from 33 teams competing at the state level in 2000 to 128 teams, statewide, this year.
“The success of Delaware teams at a competition featuring the ‘best of the best’ from around the world makes it all so worthwhile,” said Ron Raab-Long, state co-director, Odyssey of the Mind.“This year’s world competition shows that when our schools explore opportunities outside the regular classroom, Delaware students stand second to none.”
For further information on the Odyssey of the Mind program as well as looking at next year’s problems, visit the website at www.odysseyofthemind.org.
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Contact Info.
Alison Kepner Delaware Department of Education 401 Federal Street, Suite #2 Dover, Delaware 19901 Phone: (302) 735-4035 Fax: (302) 739-4654 Email: akepner@doe.k12.de.us |
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