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Youth
May 17 - June 6, 2014
27
Students heading to Odyssey of the Mind world competition BY ALISON STANTON
Later this month, a group of seven 10-year-old Ryan Elementary School students will travel to Ames, Iowa, to compete in the Odyssey of the Mind 2014 World Finals at Iowa State University. Dr. Andrea Stickland, the mother of Aiden Stickland, one of the fourth graders who is making the trip, says students from other states as well as around 30 other countries will be at the competition, which teaches students to learn creative problem-solving methods in a fun way. It also encourages them to think outside of the box. Stickland says the students—Stazia Ascoli, Julia Bziukiewicz, Haley Dickson, Isaac Hoverson, Nate Huffman, Tristen Ma and Aiden—competed in March in a regional tournament held in Scottsdale. After taking first place for their “Driver’s Test” problem, the students, who are all part of CUSD’s Chandler Academically Talented Students program, competed in the state finals in Tucson last month, where they also earned first place. Stickland says the Driver’s Test problem asked the fourth graders to design, build and drive a vehicle that traveled a course that involved a student driver completing tasks in order to pass a driver’s test. The students had a budget of $145, and had to make sure their vehicle included several different features including different propulsion
systems to allow the car to move forward and backward. Adults cannot help the students to solve the problem, she notes, they can only guide them. “My son rounded up the kids and begged them to do the Odyssey of the Mind competition with him,” Stickland says. “These fourth graders have all worked so hard, getting together for four hours at a time a couple of days a week.” To raise enough money for the students and chaperones to make the trip, Stickland says the group is working on organizing a variety of fundraisers like lemonade stands and car washes. They are also accepting donations from the public. “It will cost $1,100 per student to go, so we have a minimum goal of $7,000 that we are hoping to raise. We are working on contacting local businesses who might like to donate, and we are also doing an online fundraiser,” she says. Jess Morales Ruán, a special education teacher at Ryan and Carlson elementary schools, is a sponsor of the program. He introduced the program to Ryan Elementary School last year and says he is proud to be part of something that provides students the chance to develop skills like teamwork, critical and creative thinking and respect that are essential for academic and professional success. “They are very creative and have
WINNING TEAM: Seven fourth graders from Ryan Elementary School, pictured here with sponsor Jess Morales Ruán, will travel to Iowa later this month to compete in the Odyssey of the Mind 2014 World Finals. Submitted photo learned to work well together,” he says, adding that he happily gives up part of his lunch time to have the fourth graders come to his room every day to practice solving a spontaneous problem. “They are quite dedicated and it shows by their commitment to so much practice.” For more information about Odyssey of the Mind, visit www.
odysseyofthemind.com. To make a donation to the Ryan Royal Elementary School team, visit www.youcaring.com/ nonprofits/royal-smartanz-fourthgrade-future-leaders/164282 Alison Stanton is a freelance writer who lives in the East Valley. She can be reached at Alison@SanTanSun.com