Upper St. Clair advances in Odyssey of Mind competition
This Boyce Middle School team solved the technical problem and earned first place in the Odyssey of the Mind competition. Team members include Brayden Wong, Luka Beric, Owen Ptak, Anay Patel, Nirvan Seth, Vinay Patel and Tusya Rathore.
This Fort Couch Middle School team solved the technical problem and earned first place in the Odyssey of the Mind competition. Team members included Nigel Bailey, Thea Scheuerle, Parker Sams, Samuel An, Michael Ryan Blessing, Ashwin Vasudevan and Daphne Collins.
Boyce Middle School students pictured here won first place for solving the classic problem during the Odyssey of the Mind competition. The team consisted of Emily Brooks, Evelyn Dolan, Eleanor Wilkinson, Savannah Comiski, Matthew Campagna, Emma Mycoff and Grace Reis and was coached by Stefani Wilkinson and Denise Campagna.
Upper St. Clair High School solved the technical problem and finished first in the Odyssey of the Mind competition. Team members included Ian Hills, Jillian Torres, Vera Radke, Mark Torres and Yaqoot Zalloum. Rema Abdin and Kim Koch coached the team.
For the second year in a row, 10 teams from Upper St. Clair earned top spots at the annual Western Pennsylvania Odyssey of the Mind Regional Tournament.
With the wins, the groups qualified for the state finals to be held April 1 at Lock Haven University.
In total, 22 USC teams, comprising 144 students with representation from all six of the district’s schools, competed against teams from across the region. The regional tournament was held March 4, at Keystone Oaks Middle and High Schools.
The following are advancing to the Pennsylvania Odyssey of the Mind State Finals:
n Brayden Wong, Luka Beric, Owen Ptak, Anay Patel, Nirvan Seth, Vinay Patel and Tusya Rathore. The Boyce Middle School unit solved the technical problem and earned first Division 1 (grades 3-5). Nimisha Hirpara and Jodie Ptak coached the group.
n Emily Brooks, Evelyn Dolan, Eleanor Wilkinson, Savannah Comiski, Matthew Campagna, Emma Mycoff and Grace Reis. Also from Boyce and competing in Division I, this team solved the classic problem and finished first. Stefani Wilkinson and Denise Campagna coached the unit.
n Cassidy King, Molly Guarino, Elise Mostowy, Keirsten King, Sarah Sakowitz and Kimberly Krofcheck earned second after solving the performance problem. The Streams Elementary team was coached by Dawn Mostowy and Trisha Krofcheck.
n Aadit Patel, Veer Bhargava, Declan Wong, Kiyaan Mendhi, Keefer Kommer, Keith Smith and Aditya Singh took third for solving the balsa problem. The Eisenhower Elementary School squad was coached by Angelic Smith and Nimisha Hirpara.
n Lydia Calkins, Logan Dunkin, Ivan Yanov, Jacob Reinford, Caroline Fingal, Drew Holzer and Brighton Perrotti finished fourth for solving the vehicle problem. John Reinford and Courtney Yanov coached the group.
Division 2 (grades 6-8) winners were:
n The team from Fort Couch Middle School solved the technical problem and earned first place. Members included Nigel Bailey, Thea Scheuerle, Parker Sams, Samuel An, Michael Ryan Blessing, Ashwin Vasudevan and Daphne Collins. Sarah Sams and Jake Collins coached.
n The team from Boyce Middle School solved the technical problem and secured second. Members included Colby Caplan, Owen Maher, Lindsey Fitzgerald, Kate McClintock-Comeaux, Hagen McCurry, Ben Fitzgerald and Addy McCallum. Shanna Caplan and Cortney McCurry guided the group.
n The team from Fort Couch Middle School solved the vehicle problem and took third. Members included Rasika Khedikar, Daniyal Badaruddin, Ryan Katukota, Ian Putorti, Preston McLeod and Trevor McClintock-Comeaux. Dawn Predmore and Yesha Gandhi coached.
Division 3 (grades 9-12) winners were:
n The high school team of Ian Hills, Jillian Torres, Vera Radke, Mark Torres and Yaqoot Zalloum solved the technical problem and finished first place. Rema Abdin and Kim Koch coached.
n Chloe Faist, Zahra Hossain, Geneva Eisinger, Lauren Ginsburg, Artie McCallum, Kurt Baran and Ayan Amin combined for second for solving the classics problem. Nate Eisinger and Artie Baran coached.
Each team of up to seven students worked together for five months to solve a long-term problem in one of five chosen categories: vehicle, technical, classics, balsa or performance. At the tournament, they were given eight minutes to present their solutions for a panel of judges and were required to provide supporting paperwork including a budget breakdown of their work.
Teams were also required to solve one spontaneous problem given to them at the competition. Combined scores in both categories (long-term and spontaneous), along with additional points for style, provided the tournament results.
Odyssey of the Mind is an international STEAM program that fosters creative problem-solving skills, teamwork and ownership in students from kindergarten through grade 12. The program is noted for its “no outside assistance” philosophy. All ideas, scripts, props, solutions and paperwork are generated by the team members with no input from coaches, parents or teachers.
Visit www.uscootm.com or email uscootm@gmail.com for more details on USC’s Odyssey of the Mind program.