Sumter Elementary takes regional title in Odyssey of the Mind

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Front row, from left, are Kahrina Hadley, Lamari Edwards; middle row, from left, are Kelly Ingle, Telisha Crook, Jade Boyd, Lyle Lopez, Prerana Kumar and back row, from left, Coach Daniel Carpenter and Coach Carrie Heath. Submitted photo

March 25, 2010

Staff Writer CNHI

Lilburn — The campus of Parkview High School in Lilburn was the site of the fourth of four Odyssey of the Mind Competitions for 2010. The campus of Southwest Middle School was the site of the second Regional Competition. At both sites, “Sumter County Middle School,” was heard in Savannah and “Sumter County Elementary School,” was heard as winners in the completion.

For years, Sumter County has been joining routine winner, DeRinn Schools and Savannah Arts Academy, Valwood School and other schools specifically designed for creative competition. In seven of the last eight years, team(s) from Sumter County have won at regional, state and have traveled to the supreme competition of World Finals.

This past weekend, Odyssey Of the Mind Coach, Daniel Carpenter and parents traveled to Lilburn for competition. The theme of the Long Term Presentation was “SUBULAR,” a parallel name for the popular Subway Sandwich Shops. With consultation and T-shirt design by Global Graphics, a Partner in Education with Sumter County Schools, the team of seven students and coaches proudly wore their shirts as they did an eight-minute solution of Problem 5, “Food Court.”

There were 13 teams in their division; Sumter County Elementary won first place, with a score of 309 of a possible 350 points. The second-place winner had 20 fewer points.

The team of one fourth-grader and six fifth-graders is now on the way to Columbus State University for State Competition on April 10. They will be joining Sumter County Middle School and other winners from Georgia for this second level of completion. Some four years ago, two teams from Sumter County Schools represented Sumter County and Georgia at World Finals for Odyssey of the Mind.

Mulkey McMichael, former State Odyssey of the Mind Board member, has received invitation to be an official at this World Finals. “Sumter County has had a team or teams at World Finals for seven of the past eight years. I would love to escort these winners to Michigan State University, in Lansing, Mich., and again hear, “Sumter County ... ” said McMichael.

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