AJ News

Odyssey of the Mind, an international problem- solving competition, is in its 11th year at Abington Heights High School, according to Mary Beth Adelman, a vehicular coach for the school’s division, who’s been with the competition for 10 years.

According to Odyssey of the Mind’s national web site, it all started with Dr. C. Samuel Micklus, of Rowan University, New Jersey.

In 1978, 28 New Jersey schools participated in the first competition of its type, with problems for the students to solve developed by “Dr. Sam,” as they call him. To this day, Micklus still creates the competition’s problems, now with the help of his son.

For the past 30 years, students have had the same motive: to solve problems in a creative way.

One of Abington Heights’ teams last year was given the scenario “build a tree.” What the tree should look like or what should be used to build the tree is not specified. It’s up to the students to make the decisions. “They end up using a lot of thing people would throw away,” Adelman explained, because a budget is one thing by which a team must abide. “Even that spurs creativity.” Last year’s team ended up using green soda cans like those from Sprite on one side and on the other they used orange and red cans. “Using soda cans for leaf may not be the first thing people would ordinarily use,” she added.

All students who are in the competition are under guidance of a coach. Coaches aren’t allowed to assist the teams. “I know what they’re doing, of course, but I can’t make suggestions or give them ideas, it’s up to them,” said Adelman.

Interferences like suggesting a solution are a form of tainting team’s scores and are strictly forbidden. “When it comes down to the day of competition, we (the coaches) can’t do so much as comb a kid’s hair...nothing to help,” Adelman said, explaining it’s all about the children showing their strengths.

“Students have the power to come up with answers,” Adelman added “That’s what the competition’s all about.”

Northeastern Pennsylvania regional took place on March 8. Students who advanced at regional competed at states on Saturday, April 12 in Altoona. Students who placed first or second in regional this past weekend will advance to finals.

Students competed locally this year from Abington Heights High School, Abington Heights Middle School, Waverly Elementary School and Our Lady of Peace School.

Local students advancing to finals include: Abington Heights High School, Division III The Eccentrics!, who placed first: Justin Bell, Missy Gambal, Brittany Davis, Tom Renjillian, Andrew Cuitillo, James Sanderson and Crissy Fetcher, coached by Dorothy Gambal; Waverly Elementary, Division I Tee Structure, who placed second: Kevin Albright, Sam Jubon, Brendan Conahan, Marissa Lewis, Joey Fazio, Daniel Neary and Grace Hambrose, coached by Christine Neary; and Abintgon Heights Middle School, Division II Dino Stories, who placed second: Celine Brunetti, Ryan Kresge, Evan Eckersley, Patrick Lange, Christopher Ferrario and Taylor Ross, coached by Amy Lange and Terese Brunetti.

More information about the competition and synopsizes of the 2008 problems students solved can be found at the national web site www.odysseyofthemind.com or the regional web site www.nepaootm.com.