The Mount St. Mary Academy Odyssey of the Mind team placed 2nd at the 2022 World Finals, besting 43 of the top teams in the world to earn the runner-up spot. This year’s event took place May 25-28 at Iowa State University in Ames. Though the school’s team regularly advances to and performs well at the final competition each year, this is the highest it’s ever placed.
“The MSM team navigated this year’s musical production problem, which was challenging in its own right, alongside quarantines and shifting timelines in order to produce a solution that not only merited the world stage, but won it. They earned 2nd place overall in their problem and division, surpassing 43 of the best teams from around the world,” said Monica Madey ’06, MSM English teacher and one of the team’s coaches. “In the 20+ years that Mount has brought teams to the World Finals, this is the best result we have ever achieved, and I could not be more proud of this group. They have shown grace, resilience, and above all, creative problem solving at every turn. They deserve this recognition.”
The OM team’s division in the 2022 World Finals included a total of 45 teams from 18 states and two countries. In solving this year’s problem, the team members had to create a biographical musical about a historic figure who deserves more recognition. The group chose to share the story of London printer Elizabeth Nutt. Their skit, carefully crafted over months of hard work since the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year, included special effects, movement of scenery and several original songs. In addition to performing the skit, the OM team also competed in an improvisational component at the event.
Mount St. Mary Academy has participated in the international creative problem-solving program promoting teamwork, STEM and the arts for more than 20 years. This marks the 11th straight year the school’s OM team has advanced to the world competition. Last year’s team finished 6th overall in the 2021 event, which was held virtually due to COVID-19. It earned a spot in the 2022 World Finals after placing 2nd in its division at the State Tournament in April.
Watch the moment the team is named the 2nd place finisher during this year’s World Finals Award Ceremony at https://youtu.be/RwlX7X27r34. (Scroll to 47:20 in the video.)
Congratulations to members of our 2021-2022 OM team for their amazing talent and for making history at this year’s final competition: Isabel Jara ’22, Lucy Nimmo ’22, Anna Polk ’23, Clara Principe ’24, Macy Ramiro ’22, Kimberley Sorsby ’24 and Sofia Theodore ’24 as well as managers Caroline Cash ’25 and Hannah Pruitt ’24. The team is coached by Deborah Baldwin, MSM Academy board member, and Monica Madey.
Mount St. Mary Academy, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, develops young women with a moral and intellectual foundation rooted in Catholic tradition. Mercy-minded and college-prepared, our students meet the future with wisdom, compassion and integrity.