Invited to Eurofest  – Seven juniors at Westchester Academy for International Studies will compete in the days ahead during European Festival in Hungary sponsored by Odyssey of the Mind, the international educational program focusing on creative problem solving. Team members are Calum Mitchell, Nicholas Wike, Cassie Hurst, Michael Chiles, David Glover, Matt McMullin and Colin Gray.

Off to World Finals – Spring Forest Middle School Principal Shawn Bird proudly accepts a 1st place trophy from the eighth-grade Odyssey of the Mind team. Students pictured left to right are Sean McDermott, Will Lynde, Evan White, Principal Bird, Isai Martinez, Matthew Greene and Austin Stephens.

A seven-member team of juniors at Westchester Academy for International Studies will travel to Hungary this week and join 100 other student teams at Odyssey of the Mind’s European Festival, which will be held April 25-28 in Kecskemeti, Hungary.

In separate but related news, six Spring Branch ISD student teams – including the Westchester Academy students – advanced earlier this month in state competition and were invited to compete in Odyssey of the Mind’s World Finals, which will be held May 30 through June 3 on the University of Maryland’s College Park campus. In all, 43 students and coaches may travel to the world-level contest.

Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational program that provides creative problem-solving opportunities and challenges for students in kindergarten through college. Students use their creativity to build mechanical devices or weight-bearing balsa wood structures, interpret literary classics or find other creative solutions to competitions held at the region, state and World level.

Invited this year to Hungary’s Eurofestival competition are Westchester Academy juniors Michael Chiles, David Glover, Colin Gray, Cassie Hurst, Matt McMullin and Nicholas Wike. The students, many of whom are studying to earn International Baccalaureate diplomas at the district charter high school, have competed in Odyssey of the Mind for the past six years.

At the regional tournament, the student team designed and built a small balsawood device, weighing no more than 18 grams and standing no more than 8 inches, which held 378 pounds before the structure gave way, earning 1st place.

In Hungary, they will solve a new problem, pair up with other student teams, and take part in activities ranging from an International Festival to an opening parade and a tour of Budapest. The team is coached by Lynn and Chris McMullin.

In May, three Westchester Academy student teams will compete in World Finals competition at the University of Maryland. Joining them will be teams invited from Spring Oaks and Spring Forest middle schools and Meadow Wood Elementary School.

Spring Forest Middle’s student team has fundraising efforts under way now to help pay for student travel costs and expenses. If you would like to help sponsor a team member, contact team coach Carolyn Greene at 281-589-2332.

The SBISD students competed and advanced during the state tournament, which was held April 5 at Spring Woods High School.

Odyssey of the Mind’s Region tournament was held March 8. Student teams advancing from there to the state competition represented the following schools: Meadow Wood, Memorial Drive, Rummel Creek, Terrace and Valley Oaks elementary schools; and Memorial, Spring Forest, Spring Oaks middle schools; and Cornerstone Academy and Westchester Academy, both district secondary charter schools.

posted 04-24-08