STA Montessori’s Odyssey of the Mind Vehicle Team
We are thrilled to share that STA Montessori's 4th-5th grade Odyssey of the Mind Vehicle Team placed at the State Competition!
They have been invited to the World Odyssey of the Mind Competition at Iowa State University this May. They are one of two teams in their division problem representing Florida against other teams in the US and around the world!
Odyssey of the Mind is a creative problem-solving program where team members present their solution at a competition to a predefined long-term problem that takes many months to complete and involves writing, design, construction, and theatrical performance. A spontaneous portion of the competition has the team also generate solutions to a problem they have not seen before. Many of the events are sponsored by organizations like the American Society of Engineers, Microsoft, NASA. Odyssey of the Mind alumni use their team building and problem solving skills to contribute in new and meaningful ways in the careers they pursue! It was a lot of creative STEAM activity and learning to work well as a team as they worked and reworked ideas for months. You can find out more information about OM at https://www.odysseyofthemind.com.
On March 30th, 20 teams competed in our division at the State Competition at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando and our team was one of the teams chosen to move on to the World Competition on May 21-24th!
We are so excited to win a place at the World Competition and know it will be a memorable experience. Our team has the talent, commitment and the invitation due to our recent win. The one obstacle standing in our way is the expense. We would love it if you could help us realize our dreams and represent our school by assisting us with funds for travel and lodging on the Iowa State University Campus, and registration/site fees. It will be a little over $14,000 total for our team of seven to get there and participate in this Olympics of creativity and critical thinking while representing the city of Saint Augustine and Florida!
$9477
Raised
$12,000
Goal
UPCOMING FUNDRAISERS
May 10th, 6pm — Music Night at Trinity Parish Courtyard
SPONSORS
We are actively looking for company sponsors to feature! Please contact us if you or your company would like to partner with us.
From the Team:
“So far, I’ve learned in three years that you can’t learn new skills quickly, but if you keep trying you’ll get experience and overcome many challenges.”
“I’ve loved how we’ve always found different ways to look at the problem and how Odyssey makes you think outside of the box. I’ve learned that it is tiring to work on a chair last year and a book this year that a car could “drive” through as a special effect. I’m looking forward to go to World Finals to meet new kid engineers.”
“I loved walking and the Awards Ceremony at State. We built stuff, broke it down, fixed it, and did it all again to get it just right.”
FAQs
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What is Odyssey of the Mind?
Odyssey of the Mind, abbreviated OM or OotM, is a creative problem-solving program where team members present their solution at a competition to a predefined long-term problem that takes many months to complete and involves writing, design, construction, and theatrical performance. A spontaneous portion of the competition has the team also generate solutions to a problem they have not seen before.
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Why does the team need funds?
Registration for the team is a big expense, and getting our team members, their chaperones, and their project materials to Iowa is a big undertaking! Once the team gets to Iowa State University, there are lodging fees to stay in the dorms. We know that we are taking on a bigger cost than some teams because of how far away we are, but we are excited to make the journey and represent Florida!
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How will this impact our community?
By showcasing our students' innovative spirit and problem-solving abilities on a global platform, we inspire others in our community to pursue their passions and think creatively. Additionally, our involvement in international competitions brings positive attention to Saint Johns County and Saint Augustine, reinforcing our reputation as hubs for academic excellence and creativity.