May News

Getting ready for World Finals, encouraging teams to submit photos about their WF journey, the NY World Finals pin, a chance to win every State's pins in the COU pin sweepstakes, a fantastic TV news piece on State Finals from a former OMER, and a first look at next year's long-term problem synopses.

Good Luck Teams

Team New York has a record 49 teams heading to East Lansing, MI for this year's World Finals.

They are all being encouraged to share photos from their journey, life on campus, and of course from their performances.

Photos can be submitted here.

All photos will be featured in a World Finals gallery on the NY Odyssey website.

What use is ½ a pin?

This year New York has come together with California to create a World Finals pin that is in two halves. New York teams have the NY half, and California teams have the CA half.

Putting them together reveals a message – if your eyesight is good enough, that is!

As part of this venture, 23 NY teams have a CA buddy team, allowing them to make new friends and trade pins to get the complete set.

These pins are a limited edition and are sure to be highly sought after!!

Wanna win some pins?

Creative Opportunities Unlimited (COU) has collected official state and country pins from associations all over the United States and around the globe to create four sets of World Finals pins.

Four lucky winners will be randomly drawn from all sweepstakes entries to be the recipients of these collector's items! No purchase is necessary, but you can get additional entries if you donate to COU.

Enter Sweepstakes

This Odyssey of the Mind booster association supports teams around the world with scholarships for individual OMers and grants that help member associations around the world bring the Odyssey of the Mind program to more students.

Entry available until: June 30, 2023 at 11:59 pm MST

Drawing date: July 10, 2023 at 11:59 pm MST

Entrants must be 18 years of age or older.

TV News Report: Odyssey of the Mind State Finals brings creativity to Syracuse.

Danyell Monk is a student reporter at Syracuse University. She was in Odyssey of the Mind for 7 years, going to New York State Finals all 7 years and world finals 3 times. She states, “OM is something I am extremely passionate about and some of the best memories of my life have come from it.”

When Danyell saw that State Finals were happening right here in Syracuse on April 15, she knew it was an amazing opportunity to do a TV news story on something she cares so strongly about. During her time in Odyssey of the Mind, Danyell noticed how few people outside of the world of OM understand how much work teams, coaches, parents, and judges put into competing and performing and what an amazing community OMers are.

2023 Problem Synopses

April News - Part 2

Read about this year's State Finals, Ranatra Fusca and Omer's Award winners at States, and which teams are advancing as part of Team New York. Find tips on Fundraising and videos all about Tournament Day from our wonderful NYSOMA Scholarship winners. Finally, a heads-up and Save the Date for the 2024 NY State Finals and World Finals 2024 in Iowa.

Scenes from State Finals.

Back at the State Fairgrounds for our second year we were blessed with glorious weather and outstanding team performances.

Check out the Team Shout-Outs, team-submitted Photos, and video of the Awards Ceremony.

Scholarship Award Winners

This year NYSOMA Scholarship applicants were challenged to create a lively, entertaining, and creative video that will show teams everything they need to know about participating in an Odyssey Tournament. We got some fantastic entries from across the State and the following 3 OMers were selected as this year’s recipients of a $1,000 scholarship to help with college.

Meryl Palinkas from Pine Bush, New York (Region 5)

Lauren Lamberson from Rochester, New York (Region 14)

Alex DeMagistris from Johnstown, New York (Region 21)

Check out their videos on the 2023 Scholarships page.

Ranatra Fusca Winners

Monhagen Middle School – P1D2 - Team

American Civic Association – P3D3 - Team

Johnstown Jr/Senior HS – P1D3 - Team

OMER’s Award Winners

Speyer Legacy P3D2 - Team

Their musical performance exceeded above and beyond all expectations in all age levels. They captivated the audience in a raw, emotional level with their exceptionally strong vocals, original witty lyrics, intricate harmonies, and strong ukulele/guitar accompaniment.

Alejandro Plascencia - Official

Alejandro was a translator for a Spanish-speaking team. He was amazing despite having only one hour of sleep the previous night due to working an overnight shift as a 3rd year medical student. He also has never participated in an OOTM competition before, but he hopped right in and picked up the rules and translation flow flawlessly! Thank you, Alejandro!

Cody Lawson P5D3 - Individual

After competing at regionals, Cody’s team decided to not move on to State Finals. As it is Cody’s senior year, he decided to continue with the help of one new team member (that had never competed before). They were able to completely redo the skit and all the props between regionals and State Finals, as well as overcoming being a team of two in a competition meant for up to seven members.

Eva Colangelo, Hannah Fuhling and Abigail Meyer P2D1 - Coaches

These coaches are all Seniors in High School. Their school only had one team this year instead of two so there was no team for them to join. Instead of not participating in Odyssey of the Mind for their Senior year they embodied the spirit of Odyssey of the Mind and decided to coach a division 1 team. They were supportive, encouraging and coached with the maturity and poise of seasoned coaches and stepped up to make sure that other students got to have a positive Odyssey experience which they wouldn’t have otherwise had.

East Middle School P4D2 - Team

This team started with seven members at the regional level and when coming to State Finals they were knocked down to three members due to sports that other members had to attend. They did not quit and persevered, having to change their whole entire skit to make it a 3-person show. They still went out there and gave it there, all even with three people. What they did was so amazing and is what Odyssey is all about!

Advancing teams

This year, New York is sending 49 teams to World Finals in Michigan, the biggest contingent ever!

Go Team New York!!!!

Problem1

PRESIDENTIAL PARK ELE SCH

STATE STREET ELE SCH B

PERRY CENTRAL SCHOOL

JOSEPH HENRY ELE SCH

MONHAGEN MID SCH

HONEOYE FALLS-LIMA MID SCH

WARWICK MIDDLE SCHOOL

PERRY CENTRAL SCHOOL

VESTAL HIGH SCHOOL A

GENESEO MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL

JOHNSTOWN JUNIOR-SENIOR HS

Problem 2

LONG BEACH ELE SCH

IROQUOIS MID SCH A

YORK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

STATE STREET ELE SCH A

WARWICK MIDDLE SCHOOL

PITTSFORD MIDDLE SCHOOL B

LONG BEACH MIDDLE SCHOOL

VESTAL HIGH SCHOOL A

BROADALBIN-PERTH JR/SR H S

VESTAL HIGH SCHOOL B

Problem 3

GOSHEN INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL

LONG BEACH ELE SCH

SHERBURNE EARLVILLE ELEM SCH

LONG BEACH MIDDLE SCHOOL

JOHANNA PERRIN MID SCH

PITTSFORD MIDDLE SCHOOL A

CATO-MERIDIAN JR/SR HIGH SCH

GOSHEN HIGH SCHOOL

AMERICAN CIVIC ASSOCIATION

WARWICK VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL

Problem 4

HONEOYE FALLS-LIMA MANOR SCH

MALTA AVE ELEMENTARY

STATE STREET ELE SCH A

YORK MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL

SENECA INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL

WASHINGTONVILLE H S

AVERILL PARK HIGH SCHOOL

SALAMANCA CENTRAL SCHOOL

Problem 5

HOMER BRINK ELE SCH

STATE STREET ELE SCH B

LONG BEACH ELE SCH

OXFORD ACADEMY MID SCH

GOLDING MID SCH

IROQUOIS MID SCH A

FAIRPORT HS

YORK MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL

COBLESKILL-RICHMONDVILLE HS

GALWAY JR/SR HIGH SCH

Next year's State Finals will be held on April 13th 2024 at the New York State Fairgrounds.

World Finals will take place May 22nd to 25th 2024 in Ames, Iowa.

April News - Part 1

Tournament Photos, FAQs, Museum of Intrigue, Destiny USA, Charity Fundraising, and COU & Regional Awards.

Share your day by submitting tournament photos

Teams can submit photos taken during the day at State Finals for display on the giant LED screen at Awards. We are looking for candid shots from around the fairgrounds, pictures of teams competing or posed pictures of teams, in front of the NYSOMA banner in Science & Industry. Afterwards the pictures will be shown in the State Finals Photo Gallery on the NY Odyssey website.

To submit a photo go to:

www.nyodyssey.org/photos-state-finals

or scan the QR code here.

Deadline for submissions for the LED screen is 3:30pm on Saturday 15th. Later submissions will still be added to the website.

Read the FAQs

Teams, Coaches, and Officials often email us to ask questions about the State Finals. Most of the answers can be found on the NY Odyssey Website.

Check out the FAQs page.

Information is grouped into General, Fairgrounds, Solvay and Awards sections but by typing a few words in the search box (find the magnifying glass, just under the FAQs graphic) you will be shown all the questions and answers that reference those search terms.

Museum of Intrigue

Before or after your competition, visit the Museum of Intrigue at Destiny USA mall. Their interactive exhibits will ask you to solve puzzles, crack codes, and uncover secrets in order to succeed.

At the Museum of Intrigue, teams and families are challenged to solve one (or more) of their amazing mind-bending scenarios. Work together as a team, split into groups, challenge other teams from your school.

Whatever you do we guarantee it will fun!

On Saturday, continue problem and puzzle solving at The Fairgrounds, as the Museum of Intrigue will be joining us for part of the day, hosting some 6 tables of amazing puzzles and activities in the Science and Industry building.

Destiny USA

So while you are in Syracuse for the State Finals why don’t you visit Destiny USA - Shopping, dining, and entertainment so big, it needs its own zip code! New York’s largest destination of its kind with over 250 places to shop, dine and play, visited by 26 million guests every year. Come see the antique carousel, taste the variety of flavors from The Cheesecake Factory to Texas de Brazil, or have some fun at Dave & Buster’s. From retail and outlet brands like Apple, Nordstrom Rack, and Michael Kors to the world’s largest suspended ropes course at WonderWorks or the Museum of Intrigue, there’s something for everyone at Destiny USA.

And…

NY Odyssey participants and supporters can pick up a “Passport of Savings” to access special offers on dining, shopping, and entertainment at Destiny USA.

Turkey-Syria Fundraiser

The Vestal High School OM Problem 2 team is selling gourmet chocolate bars at Solvay HS to raise funds for the relief of victims affected by the Turkey-Syria Earthquake. 100% of the proceeds will go toward the cause.

The team believes that collectively we can utilize our problem-solving skills from Odyssey to help in finding creative solutions for problems worldwide.

COU Award Recipients

Two New York Omer’s have won Emerging Alumni Awards for 2023 from Creative Opportunities, Unlimited (COU), a non-profit organization whose mission is to support teams, program participants, and Odyssey of the Mind Associations.

This award recognizes current high school sophomores and juniors who are competing or who have competed and are involved in giving back to Odyssey of the Mind in extraordinary ways. Activities such as volunteering at tournaments, helping coach younger teams, and organizing Odyssey of the Mind at their local school or community would qualify an applicant.

​Recipients will receive a $250 gift card and have an Odyssey of the Mind membership donated in their name to a program in need.

Let’s give a big cheer for:

Jenna Hopmayer, Pine Bush - Region 5

Sophia Samborski, Warwick Valley - Region 5

Omer's Awards from Regional Tournaments

Recent Regional Tournaments awarded several Omer’s Awards to teams and individuals.

OMER’s Award recognizes those individuals, coaches, team members, parents, officials, and others who, during a tournament, serve as exemplary examples or role models through their actions or words. This award is also bestowed on team members who exhibit exceptional skill and talents. Each recipient of an OMER’s Award receives a special medal.

Region 4

Greenville Elementary School, Problem 1, Division 1 Team

Lansingburgh High School, Problem 5, Division 3 Team

Graham Brewer, Individual - Emergency Head Scorekeeper

Nicole Lindeman, Tyler Carlson, and Stacey Hopkins - Host District IT team

Problem 4 Judging Team

Region 6

Cambridge Central School Problem 5, Division 1 Team

Bolton CSD, Problem 3, D2

Region 19

Bolivar-Richburg MS/HS, Problem 1, Division 2 Team.

Amelia Edmunds, Genesee Valley Central School, Individual - Problem 5, Division 1 AND Problem 2, Division 2.

Mackenzie Weinhauer, Individual - Assistant Coach Wellsville Middle School, Problem 5, Division 2.

Benjamin Kisel, Individual - Bolivar-Richburg High School, Problem 5, Division 3.