Five Gainesville City School System (GCSS) elementary school teams have officially punched their tickets to the Odyssey of the Mind State Tournament. Following a series of performances at regional
competitions, these young people are now headed to Columbus for the March 21 for the state competition.
GCSS NEWS RELEASE:
Odyssey of the Mind (OM) is an international educational program that challenges students from
kindergarten through college to solve complex problems using nothing but their imagination and
teamwork. From engineering balsa wood towers that hold hundreds of pounds to reinterpreting
literary classics through original scripts and costumes, OM turns the classroom into a laboratory
for “outside the box” thinking.
The following teams demonstrated exceptional technical skill and collaboration to secure their
spots in the state finals:
Mundy Mill Arts Academy
- Problem #5: Taller Tales of John Jivery
- The Team: Lila, Ashton, Areli, Zoee, James, Emanuel, and Evie
- Coaches: Alan Remes and Melinda Holtzclaw
New Holland Leadership Academy - Problem #3: Classics: The Epic Quest
- The Team: Josiah, Emmanuel, Phortune, Makenzie, Emmalyn, and Mia
- Coaches: Alison Romberg and Marty Jones Harr
Enota Multiple Intelligence Academy - Problem #2: Lost in OMERland
o The Team: Fiona, Huddy, Emory, Vivie, Turner, Joy, and August
o Coaches: Aerin Durkin and Ami Ray - Problem #4: Life’s a Ball
o The Team: Carter Ann, Maya, Huck, Boone, Harrison, Haynes, and Fields
o Coaches: Hamidah Harvey and Samantha Wallhausen - Problem #5: Taller Tales of John Jivery
o The Team: Betsy, Payton, Banner, Dub, Kinsley, Barrett, and Bo
o Coaches: CJ Bidinger and Elizabeth Connell
“We are incredibly proud of these students,” said GCSS Director of Academic Affairs and
Innovation, Nick Scheman. “Odyssey of the Mind isn’t just about winning; it’s about the months
of collaboration, trial and error, and the courage to present original ideas. Seeing five of our
elementary teams advance speaks volumes about the talent and dedication of our students and
coaches.”
Winners at the state level will earn the prestigious opportunity to represent the state of Georgia at
the World Finals later this year.”