Last academic year, Ithaca College established its first ever Odyssey of the Mind team. The team began preparation in late October/early November for this year’s World competition which took place on May 24 - 27, 2006, at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.
Odyssey of the Mind is a two-part creative problem solving competition, where the first part involves an 8-minute skit that a team of students develop over several months. The skit must adhere to several guidelines, but beyond that the sky is the limit in terms of execution, preparation of props, etc. The second part is called Spontaneous. The team is given a surprise problem that may require them to offer creative and humorous responses. At this year's World Competition, there were nearly 800 teams competing from all around the world with ages ranging from elementary school to college students.
Ithaca College competed in The Classics problem, which required the team to fabricate a creative explanation for the construction of an ancient Egyptian architectural structure. The team’s humorous solution involved a childish pharaoh who bought a juicer at an Egyptian marketplace. Upon breaking the juicer, the pharaoh ordered a replacement. His dimwitted servant incorrectly copied the dimensions, resulting in a massive “juicer” – or the Great Egyptian Pyramids as we know them today. It was announced at the Awards Ceremony on May 27, 2006, that the team finished first in its division. Team members included: Andrew Wyshak, Anthony Coppolla, Maria Fiorille,
Garrett Stiger, Jillian Ernst, and Alyssa Chamberlin.
The team hopes that their success will guarantee a bright future for Odyssey of the Mind at Ithaca College and in the Ithaca community. Their aspiration is to encourage other college students to participate in the program. If you’re interested in becoming involved with the Odyssey program, look for announcements this fall.
For more information, you can go to Odyssey’s official website: http://www.odysseyofthemind.com
https://www.ithaca.edu/intercom/article.php/20060906160606750