Three Broadalbin-Perth Odyssey of the Mind teams are headed to the state competition April 2 in Binghamton following their first-place finishes in the regional competition.
Eight teams representing Broadalbin-Perth elementary, middle and high schools on Saturday, March 12, competed for scores in the Region 21 Odyssey of the Mind competition in Canajoharie.
One te
am of primary students also participated, with BPHS senior Andrew Meashaw as their coach. For his work with the youngsters, Meashaw was recognized with the OMER’s Award, which is given to teams and individuals who serve as an outstanding example of “Odyssey spirit” through their words or actions.
Odyssey of the Mind is an international creative problem-solving competition that challenges teams to solve problems that range from building mechanical devices to presenting their own interpretation of literary classics. Each team presents its unique solution to its chosen long-term problem in one portion of th
e competition; in the spontaneous portion, teams must solve a problem they have never seen 
before given finite resources and a time limit.
Students in grades 3-5 compete in Division I; grades 6-8 in Division II; and grades 9-12 in Division III.
First-place teams advance to the state competition. Two teams from BPHS and one from the middle school finished first in their respective categories and divisions.
The Broadalbin-Perth teams finished as follows:
- BPHS, Aesop Gone Viral, Division 3, first place
- BPMS, Fins, Furs, Feathers & Friends, Division II, first place
- BPHS, Fins, Furs, Feathers & Friends, Division III, first place
- BPIS, Stack Attack!, Division I, second place
- BPIS, Something Fishy, Division I, second place
- BPIS, Aesop Gone Viral, Division I, second place
- BPIS, No-Cycle Recycle, Division I, fourth place
- BPIS, Stack Attack!, Division I, fourth place