OM Team o to World Finals

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Odyssey of the Mind team headed to World Finals

Five local middle school students will travel to Ames, Iowa, May 24-29 to compete against teams across the U.S. and 25 other countries

Info provided by JILL RUDOLPH and KATE HARDING

Five middle schoolers, all residents of Oak Ridge, have qualified to participate in Odyssey of the Mind (OM) World Finals to be held May 24-29, in Ames, Iowa. Under the guidance of Coach Heidi Little, eighth graders Camden Lofters, Conrad Little and Nick Jamieson, and seventh graders Alex Rudolph and Yashwanth Kollipara have worked for nearly six months to complete a long-term problem called “Escape VroOm.” To solve the problem, the team designed and presented a dungeon set and plot-twisting script involving entertaining characters and four custom-made vehicles to help them escape that set.

During competitions, the students’ long-term designs and performances were judged based upon more than 70 detailed requirements, including obstacles of specific shape and size, story progression, and a supplies budget of $145. Additionally, a portion of their final scores resulted from solution creativity to a separate impromptu, timeconstrained problem presented to them on-site at the competition.

The middle school OM team placed first in the Regional Odyssey of the Mind competition held in March and finished second in their division at State Finals (only one point behind the first-place team), earning the invitation to OM World Finals. There, they will be competing against teams from every U.S. state and 20-25 other countries.

While the Northwest Guilford Kiwanis Club generously sponsored their North Carolina OM team membership, competing at World Finals is an exponentially larger financial affair, and the five boys are working very hard to raise funds while also practicing for competition. The team’s entry fee alone is $3,000, and travel expenses will run $1,500 to 2,000 for each member, coach, and chaperone. To help defray costs, they will be hosting several refreshment stands

Photo courtesy of Jill Rudolph (L to R) Middle school students Nick Jamieson, Conrad Little, Camden Lofters, Alex Rudolph and Yashwanth Kollipara pose with their trophy after placing second in their division at the OM State Finals last month. The team will head to Ames, Iowa, later this month to compete in the OM World Finals.

Oak Ridge Military Academy

NOW ENROLLING 2022 Summer Camps

Adventure Camps

Session 1 – June 19 to July 2, 2022 Session 2 - July 3 to July 16, 2022

e Cadet Challenge Adventure Camp teaches leadership skills through physical tness and adventure training activities.

Academic Camp

June 26 to July 29, 2022

High school students can receive 1 full credit for a 5-week course. Rising eighth grade students review the four core subjects: English, Math, Science and Social Studies.

For more information or to register, call 336-515-8040 or visit oakridgemilitary.com