DV Odyssey of the Mind teams headed to world finals

MILFORD, PA — Three teams from the Delaware Valley School District are headed to World Finals in the creative problem-solving competition Odyssey of the Mind. The teams will travel to Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa from May 24 to May 27 to compete against teams from countries around the world. The teams earned the right to compete in this event after being honored at the state competition in Altoona on April 8.

The Delaware Valley Elementary School (DVES) vehicle team placed first out of fourteen teams in their division. The team solved “The Great Parade” problem, which required the team to design, build and drive a vehicle used as three different floats in a parade. In their eight-minute performance, the seven-member team explored the “quirky questions” and “wacky facts” about life. The DVES vehicle team consists of Britta Beck, Emily Belsterling, Dylan Brown, Elijah Collins, Dana Hunt, Luke Reixinger and John VanVynk. Parents Patrick Beck and Michael Hunt coach the team.

The Delaware Valley High School (DVHS) structure team tied for second place out of eleven teams. The team’s problem, “Geometry Structure,” called for the team to build a structure of balsa wood and glue that incorporated different geometric shapes into its design. The team then had to test the structure for its ability to balance and support as much weight as possible, while incorporating a replica of the structure into an eight-minute performance. The team presented a humorous interpretation of the story Peter Pan, making Peter the host of a TV cooking show called “Peter and the Pan.” A total of 550 pounds was held by the 15-gram structure before it collapsed. The DVHS structure team is made up of Dustin Balton, Jaclyn Bealer, Richard Cheng, Brittany Naundorff, Matthew Neumann, Katlin Shoup and Liz Witkowski. Amie Montemurro, a DV graduate who was on the team in high school, coaches the team.

The Delaware Valley High School vehicle team received third place and the Ranatra Fusca Creativity Award, the latter enabling the team to compete at world finals. The team also completed “The Great Parade” problem, with a food-themed parade in which breakfast and lunch learn to work together to make one meal: brunch. The Ranatra Fusca Award is presented to teams that exhibit exceptional creativity or risk-taking but do not necessarily receive the most points during competition. DVHS was nominated for the award for the team’s hydraulic-powered vehicle that weighs over 800 pounds and carries three team members, which judges said “appeared to glide gracefully around the course.” The DVHS vehicle team includes Ryan Balton, Steve Boyle, Brigette Indelicato, Sarah McKean, Eric Neumann, Mike Osterberg and Robert Pike. Scott Llewellyn, DVMS math teacher and DV alumnus who was on the vehicle team in high school, coaches the team.

District wide, Delaware Valley sent a total of thirteen teams to the state competition after they had been honored at the regional competition. DV is among only three schools in the state to send three teams to world finals. Last year, DV sent five teams to world finals at the University of Colorado, including the DVES and DVHS vehicle teams, which placed 10th and fourth respectively.

Two other Del Val teams were honored at the State Finals awards ceremony. The DVHS classics and the Dingman-Delaware Middle School technical teams both placed third.

Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational program whose mission is to provide creative problem-solving opportunities for students from kindergarten through college. Through solving open-ended problems, students develop creative-thinking and teamwork skills that can be applied to real-life situations. Teams from throughout the U.S. and more than 20 other countries participate in the program. For more information about Odyssey of the Mind, visit odysseyofthemind.com.