Fourth- and fifth-graders from Spring Hill Elementary School in McLean on April 6 placed second in the state Odyssey of the Mind competitions, which qualified it and the first-place team to represent Virginia at the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals on May 21-24 at Iowa State University.
More than 800 teams from throughout the U.S. and more than 20 other countries will participate in the competition.
Spring Hill Elementary’s team worked more than 300 hours over the past six months to perfect a solution to their long-term problem, the solution for which included an eight-minute script, with music written and performed by the students.
The team also built and tested numerous innovative 8-inch, 18-gram balsa-wood structures designed to withstand more than 500 pounds of pressure. Using recycled cardboard and trash, the team also built props and sets that represent space-related landscapes and objects.
The team has embraced STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), researching and integrating many engineering and science laws into their performance. Its members have learned how to think on their feet to solve spontaneous problems, while displaying teamwork and creativity.
While competing in the regionals and state tournaments required a cumulative budget of less than $1,000, going to the World Finals is an expensive undertaking. The registration fee alone is $3,750 and total costs likely will exceed $20,000, supporters said.
The team is seeking donations to help pay for travel, lodging, transportation of the large props to Iowa and registration fees for the seven team members and coaches. The students have begun their own fund-raising campaign, including lemonade stands and sales of baked-goods, used books and bracelets.
To donate to the group’s GoFundMe account, visit gofundme.com/f/spring-hill-elementary-school-team-is-going-to-world-finals.
