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.

An eye to the wise (2)!

Announcing the NYSOMA Community Star Award, our first regional tournament, upcoming tournaments, volunteer opportunities and an exciting webinar hosted by NASA.

The NYSOMA Community Star Award.

There are so many people or businesses throughout the state who give a lot of time and effort towards Odyssey.  Often these people/businesses fly under the radar or are only recognized regionally. 

NYSOMA would love to acknowledge them in a broader way by announcing their efforts and achievements to the whole state.  As such, we are launching a new annual award - the NYSOMA Community Star Award. This does not replace the Omer award but is intended to recognize previously unsung heroes. 

So, if you know of anybody that has gone above and beyond to help the program, please use this link to submit an on-line nomination. Feel free to share this announcement with anybody who might like to nominate a Community Star.

The deadline for nominations is March 15th.

Region 13 Tournament

An unexpected snowstorm could not keep the OMers from Region 13 competing in the very first regional tournament in NY State. Congratulations to all.

Teams advancing are:

Drive-In Movie Div II

    1st SHERBURNE EARLVILLE MIDDLE SCH    Sherburne, NY

Classics...  Opening Night Antics Div I

    1st HUNTER-TANNERSVILLE ELE SCH          Tannersville, NY

Classics...  Opening Night Antics Div III

    1st GREENE CENTRAL MID/HS                    Greene, NY

    2nd HUNTER TANNERSVILLE MS/HS           Tannersville, NY

Rocking World Detour Div I

    1st SHERBURNE EARLVILLE ELE SCH            Sherburne, NY

    2nd GREENLAWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL   Bainbridge, NY

Rocking World Detour Div II

    1st HUNTER-TANNERSVILLE ELE SCH          Tannersville, NY

    2nd GREENE CENTRAL MID/HS                   Greene, NY

Rocking World Detour Div III

    1st SHERBURNE-EARLVILLE HS                    Sherburne, NY

    2nd GREENE CENTRAL MID/HS                   Greene, NY

Omer Award - Individual

Tucker Valentine         Sherburne-Earlville MS

Full results are available here

Upcoming Tournaments

More regional tournaments will be happening in the month of March!

March 2nd       Regions 5, 7, 8/9 & 14

March 9th        Regions 6, 12, 15 & 21

March 23rd      Regions 4, 11 & 19

Good luck to all our teams!

Team Hotels

If you are lucky enough to advance to State Finals, make sure to secure hotel rooms for your team members and coaches. NYSOM has negotiated a block of rooms at several Syracuse hotels, at discount rates. Make sure to mention NYSOMA when you call to make your reservations. Check out the list of hotels here.

Volunteering at State Finals

To help State Finals to run smoothly and give teams the best opportunity to perform, we need volunteers to help with various tasks. Roles include performance venue guides, door attendants, score runners, information desk workers and souvenir sales assistants (all training necessary will be given on the day). To sign up as a Volunteer click here.

In order to judge at State Finals, however, you need to be trained and ideally have judged at a regional tournament. Coaches from non-advancing teams are also able to act as judges in their problem, with additional training. All judges will be offered a shared hotel room the night before and a very spiffy blue officials T-shirt!

To register as a Judge use the link here.

NASA webinar

Did you know that less than 3% of Earth’s water is freshwater? On March 22 we celebrate World Water Day around the globe. Join NASA’s Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) for the next event in our free GPM 10-in-10 webinar series.

Several NASA scientists will discuss how and why NASA keeps track of Earth's limited freshwater resources. You will also discover how you can monitor precipitation yourself as a citizen scientist working with CoCoRaHS and the GLO.

An eye to the wise!

Important information about scholarship deadlines for NY OMers, both from NYSOMA and from COU, as well as recently published general clarifications that teams, coaches and officials should be aware of.

COU Alumni Award Deadlines

Emerging Alumni Award

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. 

​The application deadline is February 15th, and recipients will be notified March 20th. 

To apply - click here.

Alumni Ambassador Award

This award recognizes alumni who have competed, are between the ages of 18-25, and who are involved in giving back to Odyssey of the Mind in extraordinary ways. Activities such as judging, organizing tournaments, coaching teams, or coordinating activities with regional or state associations would qualify an applicant. 

The recipient will ​represent and assist Creative Opportunities Unlimited and OdysseyAlumni at World Finals at the Creativity Festival, Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Graduation Ceremony, and other activities. The award will cover room and board at World Finals in the same accommodations as Odyssey of the Mind officials as well as a $250 travel stipend. 

Due to the requirements of this ambassador role, the recipient will not be able to compete or judge at World Finals. If there are questions about the expectations, please contact OdysseyAlumni. 

​

The application deadline is February 15th, and recipients will be notified March 20th.  ​

To apply - click here.

NYSOMA Scholarship Deadline

Every year NYSOMA awards a number of academic scholarships to New York OMers, who are graduating High School or have just started their freshman year of College.

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

This years challenge is to create a lively, entertaining and creative video (3-5 minutes in length) that will show people what you have learned, and what real world 21st century skills you have developed, by participating in Odyssey of the Mind . 

Deadline for submissions is March 16th 2024, by 11:59pm (EST).

Find out more and submit your application here.

COU Scholarship Deadline

Creative Opportunities Unlimited (COU) offers several different scholarships to Odyssey of the Mind participants each year. 

Scholarship applicants must:

• be a

  • high school senior,

  • a college freshman, sophomore, or junior, or

  • a college senior if pursuing post-graduate education

• plan to attend post-secondary school in the U.S.

• be (or will be) a full-time student who is actively attending classes in good standing.

Some of the scholarships have specific selection criteria defined by the sponsor when the scholarship was established.

Applicants should read the individual scholarship requirements to see if they are eligible and able to provide the additional elements necessary to be considered for those special scholarships.

The deadline for applications is midnight (EST) March 30, 2024.

Find out more and submit your application here.

Clarification Alert!

There have been a number of recent general clarifications.

These are updates, amendments, or further explanations of Long-Term Problem limitations, written by Odyssey of the Mind HQ and made public for all members.

General Clarifications take precedence over published problem details and the rules in the Program Guide, so it’s important that teams keep current on all general clarifications issued throughout the year by clicking “Read  Clarifications” regularly.

Problem 1: Drive-In Movie

Jan 12, 2024    B10c – the original team created food item: after it is loaded onto the vehicle the food item must remain on the vehicle until the vehicle reaches the Parking Spot to be eligible for score in D5b(1).

Jan 12, 2024    B10b – the vehicle must break the plane of the ticket booth area before it acquires the ticket.

Problem 3: Classics…Opening Night Antics

Jan 8, 2024      B7 – The original play: The team’s retelling of the selected story may contain characters from the selected story, if the team so chooses.

Jan 8, 2024      B11 – The Theater Critic Character: The theater critic is not a character in the team’s original play but is an observer of the opening night production. The intended spirit is that the theater critic personifies the essence of one of the characters listed from the book in B11a.

Jan 8, 2024      D3 Should read: The story theme from the list in B7a.

Jan 8, 2024      D8a Should read: Portrays a listed character from the book with the selected theme from B11a.

Jan 8, 2024      Glossary: Play – a live performance in front of a live audience in a theatre that includes a storyline or plot; however, the play does not have to depict a live audience, in order to be considered a play, but must appear to be performed in front of a live audience.

Problem 4: Deep Space Structure

Jan 3, 2024      B17 & F2 – The Team List has been revised from 5 line items to 6, adding: A brief description of the special effect scored in F2 and when it will take place in the performance.

Problem 5: Rocking World Detour

Dec 12, 2023   B11 – Original hairstyles: Only styling of hair on the face or head will be considered for score.