Nine teams from Martinsville City Schools earned first-place wins this weekend at the regional Odyssey of the Mind (OotM) competition, qualifying for the state tournament in April. A team from Martinsville Middle School also took home of the event’s highest honors—the coveted Ranatra Fusca Creativity Award.
“We are so excited to have nine teams from our district earn first place,” said MCPS Coordinator of STEM, Math and Science Tammy Allen. “I am enormously proud of the students and coaches for all the hard work they put into the program.”
On Saturday, March 16, eleven elementary and middle school teams from Martinsville traveled to Franklin County High School to compete in the regional tournament. At the end of a full day of creative problem-solving challenges, four teams from Martinsville Middle School, three from Patrick Henry Elementary, and two from Albert Harris Elementary were awarded first place medals for their categories, qualifying them for the statewide competition in Leesburg next month.
The MMS team of Michelle Yanes, Maya Williams, D’Anna Fitzgerald, and Carson Cole not only qualified for states, but also earned the Ranatra Fusca Creativity Award. According to the OotM website, “the Ranatra Fusca Creativity Award is given to a team or individual for demonstrating outstanding creativity. This award embodies all that the Odyssey of the Mind program represents.”
Odyssey of the Mind is a STEM-based program for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Teams are challenged to work together to find original solutions to open-ended problems with specific requirements. Students then create original performances featuring props, costumes, and scripts to showcase their unique solution. Teams must also solve spontaneous problems on competition day to test their ability to think quickly and creatively.
“Odyssey fosters incredible teamwork, creativity, and innovation through problem-solving,” Allen enthused. “It is such a wonderful opportunity for students to display their creativity and talents!”
Teams from city schools have competed in the state Odyssey of the Mind competition since 2016, and teams have competed in the World Finals for the past two years.
Schools superintendent Dr. Zeb Talley congratulated the teams, their coaches, and their family members.
“MCPS continues to excel in STEM and engineering fields,” Talley said. “Our students are ensuring that they will have future opportunities in the technology field. I am so proud of our students and thrilled by their continued success!”
Teams that competed in this year’s regional OotM tournament are:
Martinsville Middle School
Drive-In Movie (First place, qualifies for state tournament) Coach: Emily Harrell, Liz Lynch Noah Wright, Vee Smith, Bridgette Brent, Colby Robertson, Cristopher Santiago, Kyla Stewart, Arianna Ybarra.
AI Tech-NO-Art (First place, qualifies for state tournament; recipient of Ranatra Fusca Creativity Award) Coach: Adrienne Anderson Michelle Yanes, Maya Williams, D’Anna Fitzgerald, Carson Cole.
Opening Night Antics (Second place) Coach: Jessica Clervoi Zaina Talley, Isabella Hurd, James Farris, Mason Cassell, David Argueta.
Deep Space Structure (First place, qualifies for state) Coach: Mary Nuñez William Wray, Ana Nunez, Litzy Contreras-Rosas, NyShawn Walton, Amauri Johnson.
Rocking World Detour (First place, qualifies for state) Coach: Greg Hackenberg, Kevin Avila-Santiago, D’Anna Fields, Niema Merritt, Aileen Nolasco, Lilly Wall, William Wall.
Albert Harris Elementary School
Drive-In Movie (First place, qualifies for state) Coach: Wenn Harold Sariyah Carter, Keiana Hairston, Yahya Rodriguez, Aria Lewis, Destiny Richmond, Jasmin Nolasco, Joselin Lara-Alvara.
Opening Night Antics (Third place) Coach: Hannah Jent Estrella Velasquez, Antonella Rodriguez, Linyah Thompson.
Deep Space Structure (First place, qualifies for state) Coach: Lynne Young Miriam Carter, Kyndall Gravely, Amara Hemphill, Andrea Nowlin, Amina Rumley, Willie Walker.
Patrick Henry Elementary School
AI Tech-NO-Art (First place, qualifies for state) Coach: Rita Ybarra Lilliana Torres, Keirsten Smith, Kennedy Martin, Bentley Williamson, Margot Sharp, Elena Alvarez Lozano, Virgil Moore.
Opening Night Antics (First place, qualifies for state) Coaches: Liz Lynch and Ashley Taylor Emery Taylor, Adelaide Brent, Mercy Moore, KeiYani Morrison, Hailey Turner, Jade Holland Dallas, Katie Wall.
Rocking World Detour (First place, qualifies for state) Coach: Erica Crockett Dillon Wilson, Remington Crockett, Josiah Law, Brooklyn DeShazo, Takeira Beal, Deontre Fitzgerald, Jycere Moorman.
The Night Life (Non-competitive) Coach: Judy McDonald Zoe Preston, Kiah Cooper, Emersyn Crockett, Eloise Sharp, Dominic Barker, Piper Cruise, Holden Lewis.
