This year’s MSM Odyssey of the Mind team placed 1st in their division at the State Tournament held at Hendrix College in Conway on Saturday, April 1. The achievement earns the group a spot in the 2023 World Finals May 24-27 at Michigan State University in East Lansing where it will compete against champions from all over the country and world.
In solving this year’s problem, Classics…The Walls of Troy, the OM team had put their spin on the concept of the “Trojan Horse” by creating one of their own and featuring it in a performance that also included a character from The Iliad, an original Greek Chorus, and an unusual statue.
“Our team created a world of insect characters vying for Bug Olympic gold who must learn to appreciate each other’s strengths and work together to overcome an obstacle that threatens the games: a giant wall of trash, wherein the queen bee is trapped and fighting for her life,” described Monica Madey ’06, MSM English teacher and one of the team’s long-time coaches. “The team chose insects with unique adaptations that made them easy to anthropomorphize as Olympic athletes. The resulting costumes are bright, sculptural, macroscopic works of art.”
Mount St. Mary Academy has participated in the international creative problem-solving program promoting teamwork, STEM and the arts for more than 20 years. Since 1999, the MSM team has regularly been awarded first or second place in regional and state competitions. This marks the 12th straight year the school’s OM team has advanced to the World Finals. Last year’s team finished 2nd overall in the final competition, which is the program’s greatest achievement to date.
We wish these talented girls the best as they represent MSM and Arkansas on the international level next month: Bri Boggs ’24, Caroline Cash ’25, Savannah Eanes ’24, Maya Johnson ’25, Annabelle Owen ’25, Anna Polk ’23 and Clara Principe ’24, as well as manager Eve Jara ’26. The team is coached by Ms. Madey and Dr. Deborah Baldwin, MSM Academy board member.