Three Campolindo Odyssey of the Mind teams advance to World Competition
Submitted by Rich Render
First team members are: (back row) El Reid, Claire Damiano, Sol Dente, Nina Damiano, and (front row) Lily Thomas and Valerie Yarve.
Three teams of Campolindo students who compete in Odyssey of the Mind under the Moraga Rotary name, their sponsor, will advance from State to World Championships at Iowa State University. The team coached by Cynthia Manji won first place and also the Ranatra Fusca Award, one of the highest awards you can receive in Odyssey, for their presentation that was described as high risk and completely novel unlike any other machine.
Odyssey of the Mind is a creative problem-solving program for K-12 kids that engages students in their learning by encouraging them to think outside the box. Teams made up of 5-7 members have to solve problems (anything from building vehicles to presenting their own interpretation of literary classics) and present their solution to the problem to judges in an 8-minute skit.
Since 2005, Moraga Rotary Club has sponsored the international Odyssey of the Mind team competitions, held every year beginning in September and completing in May at the World Odyssey Championships. This year, Moraga Rotary sponsored eight teams from grades K through 12, who competed in February at the Bay Regional Tournament, and the three Campolindo High School teams advanced to the NorCal State Tournament. The teams were supported by Student Leader Amrita Malhotra.
The first team coached by Kathi Dente had to create an 8-minute musical about an unsung historical figure. They chose the actor, Edwin Booth, the brother of John Wilkes Booth. He was the most famous actor of the era. His career and fame were cut short by the infamy of his brother.
The second team coached by Cynthia Manji took on the problem to create a performance that includes one or more team-created vehicles that will help a group of characters escape an unusual room. The vehicles must travel to areas within the room and complete tasks that releases a "clue" that allows the group to escape the room. The team set high goals for themselves to improve their vehicles' performances in time for the State Tournament.
The third Campolindo team coached by Sandra Franklin and Raphaelle Wirstrom also had to create an 8-minute musical about an unsung historical figure. This is their sixth year competing in Odyssey as a team. They have been to the State Tournament three times and have qualified for World Competition three times as well. The team tied for second place and this will be their first time actually attending the World Tournament in person, so they are super excited!
Moraga Rotary is a community service organization that meets every Tuesday at noon at La Finestra Restaurante. Guests and visitors are welcome.
Second team members, from left: Brendan Tonomura, Liv House, Marshall Franklin, Henry Franklin, Tae Woo Kim, and Daniel Granicher.
Third team members: Hannah Cheng, Grace Franklin, Maureen Kang, Ben Tallon, Sofia Thomas, Kylie Wang, and Viggo Wirstrom. Photos provided
Odyssey of the Mind is a creative problem-solving program for K-12 kids that engages students in their learning by encouraging them to think outside the box. Teams made up of 5-7 members have to solve problems (anything from building vehicles to presenting their own interpretation of literary classics) and present their solution to the problem to judges in an 8-minute skit. 
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA