ELLICOTTVILLE — Six creative thinkers from Ellicottville Central School’s High School Odyssey of the Mind team are set to participate in the Odyssey of the Mind 2013 World Finals at Michigan State University, in East Lansing, Mich., May 22-25.
The team, composed of two seniors, Eric Oliverio and Patrick Snyder; and four juniors, Izzy Brown, McKenzie Robinson, Emily Timkey and Chris Wojtowicz, is coached by Caitlyn Keller and assistant coach Megan Westfall, an 11th grader.
“I am very proud of my team. They have worked so hard and it shows,” coach Keller said. The program was coordinated by Colleen Bower. Every team member has participated in Odyssey of the Mind since they were in 4th grade and all have been previously involved in teams that advanced to States.
The Ellicottville Central School (ECS) team recently attended the 34th Annual New York State Odyssey of the Mind (OM) Finals in Binghamton, on March 23, where 237 teams from across New York State showcased their creativity during the OM state finals. The competition was a huge success for the ECS team that placed second in their respective problems — earning them the honor of representing New York State at World Finals.
Jean Oliverio, BOCES Student Program Coordinator, said in the 33 years that ECS has been participating in Odyssey of the Mind, there have been only two years where two teams have have earned the honor of advancing to World Finals.
Cyndi Snyder, of Great Valley, and mother of OM participant Patrick Snyder, said it’s a huge deal for the kids to go to the World Finals. They start when they are in 4th grade and her son is now a senior. She added “What a way to start and finish. They’ve come full circle.”
“We’re just so thrilled that he gets to go to the Worlds,” she said. “It’s his last possible chance to win, but it doesn’t matter if his team doesn’t win because he’s just happy to be able to say he’s going.”
* This is a partial story. The full story can be found in the April 25, 2013 edition of The Salamanca Press and online in the e-edition. *
