An eye to the wise (3)!

April news from NY Odyssey

Covering State Finals, Shout Outs, the Syracuse Crunch, Activities during State Finals, Pins & Souvenirs, Awards Ceremony Livestream, FAQs, Save the Date for 2025, World Finals and Regional Special Awards (OMER's and Ranatra Fusca Awards).

State Finals News

Less than a week to the start of the 2024 NY Odyssey State Finals Tournament and excitement is growing! It's our biggest tournament ever, with over 250 teams from across the state competing for the honor of representing New York at The World Finals in Ames, Iowa.

Shout Outs

This year we have a giant LED screen displaying pictures and graphics throughout the day. It will be located, outside the Science and Industry Building during the day, and then inside the Center of Progress during the dance party and awards ceremony.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to acknowledge and send a good-luck message to support your team.

Submit a Shout-Out online!

Either upload a screen ready image (jpeg or pdf), or send a photo/graphic, text message and a color scheme and our designer will customize a shout-out for you. Submit online at www.nyodyssey.org/shout-outs-2024.

Syracuse Crunch

This year we are embarking on an exciting partnership with the Syracuse Crunch, a minor league hockey team based in Syracuse. Do you want a fun activity to do on Friday night, before the Tournament?  Well, the Crunch are making available a discounted block of tickets for NYSOMA members to attend the Crunch hockey game against the Toronto Marlies at the Upstate Medical University Arena in downtown Syracuse. The tickets are only $18, and all Odyssey attendees will be able to sit together.

The Crunch are also providing signed hockey equipment for NYSOMA to raffle and will have Crunch members attend the Tournament on Saturday to do some fun and educational activities with teams in the Science and Industry building. Check them out!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1o1Y5OP9QgZoOHYDQudbfUiaN81r8nrgC/view?usp=drive_link

Activities

When you aren’t competing, there are a whole bunch of fun activities for teams to do in the Science and Industry building between 9am and 3:30pm and in the Center of Progress from 4:30pm until the start of Awards.

From a selfie station for teams (complete with props), prize opportunities and games, pin design contests, face-painting to our inaugural pin trading session there will be lots of fun and excitement. Check out these and much more on the Activities page on the NY Odyssey website.

Souvenirs

Speaking of pins, don’t miss out on your chance to purchase this year’s NY State pins, as well as previous year's pins for your collection, or to trade either in the Center of Progress from 4:30pm onwards, or if you are lucky enough, at World Finals. Our souvenir stands in the Science and Industry building and in the Center of Progress and at Solvay HS Cafeteria (a limited selection) will also be selling T-shirts, sweatshirts and other Odyssey items.

Awards Ceremony Live Stream

Not able to attend State Finals this year? Join in the excitement of the Awards Ceremony via the livestream at www.nyodyssey.org/videos-state-finals. The awards are scheduled to start at 6:30pm, but may be delayed if the scores aren’t ready by that time…😊  

FAQs

Want to know something about State Finals? Check out our FAQ page for answers to questions teams, coaches or officials have previously asked.

Don’t see the answer you need?

Send in a new question and we’ll have one of our experts answer it.

Ask a question

Save the Date

We have tentatively set the date for next year’s State Finals at the NYS Fairgrounds to be Saturday April 5th, 2025.

Stay tune for announcements when this is confirmed.

World Finals

First and Second place teams at States plus ties and Ranatra Fusca award winners will be advancing to World Finals to represent team New York in Ames, Iowa May 21st to 24th.

Instagram

NY Odyssey is starting an Instagram account @nysodyssey.

Post your photos and graphics, and tag us at #nysodyssey!

Regional Special Awards

Several OMER's awards and Ranatra Fusca awards were given out at our Regional tournaments. Here are the fantastic recipients.

Region 14

OMER’s awards

Johanna Perrin Middle School, Fairport - Problem 3, Division II,

Our Lady of Mercy, Rochester - Problem 3, Division III

Region 21

Ranatra Fusca award

Knox Middle School, Team A - Problem 5, Division I

OMER’s award

Gwendolyn & Waylon from Warren Street Elem School – Primary

Region 12

Ranatra Fusca award

Binghamton High School - Problem 5 Division 3

Region 19

OMER’s Award

Alleghany-Limestone School Team B - Problem 3 Division 1

An eye to the wise (4)!

Latest news from NY Odyssey

Covering State Finals, results & special awards (OMER's and Ranatra Fusca Awards), the NYSOMA Scholarship 2024 winners and the roster of Team NY - representing New York at the World Finals in Ames, IA.

State Finals

It was our biggest tournament ever, with over 250 teams from across the state competing for the honor of representing New York at the World Finals in Ames, Iowa, May 22nd-25th.

We had a giant LED screen displaying shout outs, and team pictures inside the Center of Progress and then an amazing dance party and awards ceremony.

Weren't able to attend State Finals this year?

Relive the excitement of the Awards Ceremony via a recording the livestream at www.nyodyssey.org/videos-state-finals.

OMER’s Awards – State Finals

Rocking World Detour Div III - COBLESKILL-RICHMONDVILLE HS #16607

Stephanie Viglietta - Wellsville Central School District

Dianne Chalavoutis - DONALD P. SUTHERLAND ELEMENTARY #37615

Diane Betzweiser - Shenendehowa Middle School

 

Ranatra Fusca Awards – State Finals

Drive-In Movie Div II - MONHAGEN MID SCH #38342 

AI Tech-No-Art Div III - BROADALBIN-PERTH JR\/SR H S #12167 

Team NY at World Finals

First and Second place teams at States plus ties and Ranatra Fusca award winners are advancing to World Finals to represent team New York in Ames, Iowa May 21st to 24th.

Representing NY at World Finals, in Ames Iowa

ATTICA CENT S Region 15 P5            D1

BALLSTON SPA MS Region 6 P4            D2

BETHLEHEM CENTRAL H Region 7 P4            D3

BROADALBIN-PERTH JR/SR H S Region 21 P2            D3

BROOKS HILL ES Region 14 P3            D1

FAIRPORT HS Region 14 P5            D3

GENESEO MID/HS Region 15 P1            D3

GOSHEN IS Region 5 P2            D1

HOOSIC VALLEY JR/SR HS Region 4 P5            D2

HOOSIC VALLEY JR/SR HS Region 4 P3            D3

LONG BEACH ES Region 2 P5            D1

LONG BEACH MS Region 2 P2            D2

LONG BEACH MS Region 2 P3            D2

MALTA AVENUE ES Region 6 P4            D1

MONHAGEN MS Region 5 P1            D2

MONTGOMERY ES Region 5 P3            D1

PARK AVENUE ES Region 5 P5            D1

PERRY CENT S Region 15 P1            D3

PINE BUSH ES Region 5 P1            D1

PINE BUSH H S Region 5 P2            D3

PINE TREE ELEM Region 5 P3            D1

PITTSFORD HS A Region 14 P5            D3

PITTSFORD HS B Region 14 P3            D3

SANFORDVILLE ES Region 5 P2            D1

SCHOOL #18 Region 4 P5            D1

SKANEATELES MS Region 11 P4            D2

ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST SCHOOL Region 12 P3            D1

STATE STREET ES B Region 11 P1            D1

WARWICK VALLEY MS Region 5 P1            D2

WARWICK VALLEY MS Region 5 P2            D2

WASHINGTONVILLE H S Region 5 P4            D3

WASHINGTONVILLE MS Region 5  P3            D2

YORK ES Region 15 P4            D1

YORK MID/HS Region 15 P5            D2

YORK MID/HS Region 15 P5            D3

NY Odyssey Instagram account @nysodyssey will be posting photos and graphics from World Finals.

Follow and tag us!

NYSOMA Scholarship 2024 winners

"What has being an OMer taught you, and how will it help you and future employers?"

This years challenge, for HS seniors, was to create a lively, entertaining and creative video that will show people what they have learned, and what real world 21st century skills they have developed, by participating in Odyssey of the Mind . 

4 scholarships of $1,000 were awarded this year to Shamus Evans, Jenna Hopmayer, Lauryn Donahue and Madelyn Carpenter.

Check out their winning videos at www.nyodyssey.org/scholarships-2024

One of our winners Shamus, the day after State Finals, competed with his father in the Boston Marathon and achieved a personal best time of 2:55, placing 2nd in their division.

https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a60514590/father-son-duo-runs-255-at-boston-marathon-shaun-shamus-evans/

The duo received fantastic support all round the course. Shamus told his dad after the race, "My smile muscles are tired!"

Dr. Sam

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of the founder of the Odyssey of the Mind program. However, it is not a time for tears but rather one for smiles celebrating all the amazing accomplishments millions of students from all over the years have achieved since OM began.

Dr. Sam (Dr. C. Samuel Micklus) started developing innovative problem-solving skills in students initially during his time teaching at Rowan University in New Jersey, where his Industrial Design class provided the inspiration for the Ranatra Fusca award.

The face and beating heart of the Odyssey program, Dr Sam oversaw more than 40 years of creative problem-solving expanding the program across the globe and writing umpteen long-term and spontaneous problems.

Ever present at World Finals, he supported teams and was a kindly face to generations of Odyssey teams. He always appreciated a great story, a funny joke, and a good creative idea.

There will be a tribute to Dr. Sam at the upcoming Odyssey of the Mind 2024 World Finals at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. It will be broadcast, and attendance will be open to all. 

Odyssey HQ is very busy preparing for World Finals and is asking that you wait to share any memories you have when they publish a link for them to be collected, preserved, and eventually shared.