Students from The Pioneer School in St. Augustine are on their way to Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa for the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals after winning a second-place spot in their division at the Florida Odyssey of the Mind State Competition.
Gentry Brass, Pippa Buschiazzo, Luke Daniello, Luna Espinoza Proffitt, Isaac Hellmuth, Charlie Jones and Marian Young will compete against approximately 40 teams at the World Finals during the last week in May.
According to Crystal Jones, the team chaperone, The Pioneer School Team engineered a functional vehicle with a custom propulsion system and a 3D-printed gear mechanism. The design included multiple attachable components within a structure made with playing cards and a gravity-assisted element that integrated into the vehicle without human contact.
Constructed on the theme of magic and illusion, props included original costumes and an eight-minute scripted presentation.
Teri Aboulafia, the school’s director, called the team ambitious.
“They approach every challenge with curiosity and persistence, and it’s been incredible to watch their ideas evolve into something so complex and creative,” she said in a news release.
Coaches Alicia Young, Kimberly Hellmuth and Franklin Johnson said the team owned every part of the design, testing and iteration processes.
“They learned how to problem-solve in real time, adapt when things didn’t work and keep improving,” Young said. “That kind of experience is hard to replicate in a traditional classroom.”
Johnson added: “This team’s journey has shown a level of focus and determination that goes far beyond their age.”
The team is raising funds to cover travel, lodging and registration costs associated with attending the World Finals. Go to https://staugustinepioneer.com/flagship-programs for more details.
What is Odyssey of the Mind?
Odyssey of the Mind, an international educational program that promotes creative problem-solving skills for students from kindergarten to college, was born from the teachings of C. Samuel Micklus, a Rowan University teacher of creative problem-solving.
Micklus designed a syllabus that blended writing, design, construction and theatrical performance to solve long-term problems with real world skills. Creativity served as the impetus for students to learn how to solve problems through teamwork, budgeting, time management, art, performance and public speaking.
Examples of his creative problem-solving criteria included constructing a vehicle without wheels, designing a mechanical pie thrower and creating a flotation device that would safely cross a lake.
As the class drew the attention of students, teachers and the media, Micklus organized Olympics of the Mind, a statewide competition for middle and high school New Jersey students. He also established Creative Competitions Inc., which organized local nonprofits to administer the program nationally. Acting on the heels of the program’s success, Odyssey of the Mind became the official title as the competition became global.
This article originally appeared on St. Augustine Record: Pioneer School team advances to Odyssey of the Mind World Finals
Reporting by Lucia Viti, St. Augustine Record / St. Augustine Record
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
