“Our small school competes incredibly well against so many bigger schools.”
Hard work, determination and innovation have paid off for four Grand Canyon School students as they competed in the Odyssey of the Mind World competition in Iowa.
With tornado warnings and a morning of taking shelter, Hunter Campbell, Everette Hartman, Eli Talley and Noah Talley placed 31st, beating the other team from Arizona that previously beat them at the state level.
“It’s been really great to help coach and watch the kids come out of their shells and overcome fears of stage fright, “said National Park Service Recreation Branch Chief and Odyssey of the Mind Coach Raukisha Talley. “Part of this means that they perform their skit the way that they solve the problem in front of a live audience of other students and parents. It’s been great to watch them use innovative thought and out-of-box thinking and come out of their shells and do a great job.”
Odyssey of the Mind takes months to complete a predefined problem that involves writing, design, construction and theatrical performance.
“We are very proud to have a team representing such an interesting part of the country in our competition,” said New Jersey Odyssey of the Mind Director of Program Development Jennifer Veale. “With teams from all around the world attending, a national park such as the Grand Canyon adds to the global landscape of our event.”
Calling themselves, “The Dudes,” this year’s Grand Canyon School project played out as a world-famous rock band on tour. “We perform and then we have a detour and go to heaven and meet Michael Jackson and perform for him. Then we get sent back,” said Odyssey of the Mind participant Everett Hartman.
“We have had teams almost every year place in the top two to earn an invitation to the world championship,” said Grand Canyon School District Superintendent Matt Yost. “Our small school competes incredibly well against so many bigger schools.”
Getting to perform is the most exciting aspect of Odyssey of the Mind, said Noah Talley, who has been a participant for two years. “It has been so much fun.” FBN
By V. Ronnie Tierney, FBN
To learn more about Odyssey of the Mind, visit www.odysseyofthemind.com.
Photo by V. Ronnie Tierney, Fresh Focuses Photography: Parent Lane Hartman encouraged the students, including Eli Talley, Noah Talley and Everett Hartman, shown here with National Park Service Recreation Branch Chief and Odyssey of the Mind Coach Raukisha Talley (not pictured is student Hunter Campbell).