Reminders about deadlines for scholarship applications to NYSOMA and COU, news about recent and upcoming Regional Tournaments, a theatrical offering from 3 Odyssey Alumni in New York City, and a heads up about the Fast-Track registration option at State Finals.
NYSOMA Scholarships
Every year NYSOMA awards a number of academic scholarships to New York OMers, who are graduating High School or have just started their freshman year of College.
This year's challenge is to make a more effective and creative Super Bowl Ad for Odyssey of the Mind.
Applicants need to create a 3–5-minute video, selling Odyssey of the Mind to people who don’t know anything about it, that would encourage new participants to:
· Join an Odyssey Team or,
· Coach a Team or,
· Start an Odyssey program in their School/community Group or,
· Act as a volunteer/official at an Odyssey Tournament.
Deadline for submissions is March 8th, 2025.
The 2025 NY Odyssey of the Mind Scholarships are being awarded this year in memory of Anthony W. "Tony" Lisi.
For over 10 years, Tony served as a dedicated Region 19 judge for Odyssey of the Mind, with a particular passion for Problem 5. He consistently volunteered as the Staging Area judge, where his enthusiasm for fostering creativity and the arts left a lasting impact on both participants and judges.
Through generous donations in Tony’s honor, NYSOMA proudly presents the 2025 scholarships, of $1,000 each, continuing Tony’s mission of supporting the next generation of creative thinkers.
COU Emerging Alumni Award
This award recognizes current high school sophomores and juniors who are competing, or who have competed, and are involved in giving back to Odyssey of the Mind in extraordinary ways. Activities such as volunteering at tournaments, helping coach younger teams, and organizing Odyssey of the Mind at their local school or community would qualify an applicant.
Recipients will receive a $250 gift card and have an Odyssey of the Mind membership donated in their name to a program in need. The application deadline is March 30th, and recipients will be notified shortly thereafter.
Check Out What Some of our Odyssey Alumni are Doing in NYC!
Three of our Odyssey Alumni are busy cooking up and starring in a new show at 59E59 theaters https://www.59e59.org/
Steven Conroy, Julie Congress and Victoria Rae Sook all participated in Odyssey teams in their home states of Massachusetts, Virginia and Texas. Now based in NYC, they are using their Odyssey skills in this new production.
"The wig I made for this show would not have happened without Odyssey. I had styled wigs before but never built one. I glued pieces from other wigs to a cage, butterflies fly out, champagne pops out of it, and I just felt like I was back on an Odyssey team the whole time I was making it. It was a baffling experience, but very much if it doesn’t say you can’t then you can! I also feel like Odyssey is the reason I have the confidence to direct and look at things in different ways in a rehearsal room.”
Victoria Rae Sook.
* Some of you may know Victoria as the costumed, singing P3 Timer/Announcer at World Finals. BTW, this isn't Victoria, this is her wig is being modelled by Steve Conroy!
But, we wonder if the wig will make an appearance one day at Worlds?
Destined to be a sugary, sweet scrumptious production Sugarcraft is a new theatrical confection, inspired by the 1718 cookbook, Mrs. Mary Eales’ Receipts.
"You are cordially invited to Lady Dupray’s exclusive parlour for a cooking presentation by the ingenious Mary Eales - including her most famous recipe for ice cream! (We are thrilled to be partnering with Ample Hills Creamery for a delicious ending).”
The world premiere runs Feb 26-March 15. If you are in and around NYC during those dates, members of our Odyssey family can use the discount code “SCFRIEND” to purchase tickets for only $25.00!
Regional Tournaments begin.
Region 13 held the first regional tournament in New York last weekend in the middle of a winter blizzard!!
"The weather outside was frightful, but the teams were quite delightful! Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!", sang the judges.
Here are some photos from tournament day.
We wish all teams competing in March the very best of luck (and weather!)
March 1st : Regions 5, 7, 8/9 and 19
March 8th : Regions 2, 6, 12, 14 and 21.
March 15th : Region 4
March 22nd : Regions 11 and 15.
Coaches, do you hate waiting in line?
Well, you don't need to at the State Tournament...
Completion of Fast-Track registration online before the tournament is highly recommended. Coaches who have completed Fast-Track do not need to wait in line to register in-person. Instead, they can go directly to their scheduled Spontaneous or Long-Term performance sites.
There are 2 steps to Fast-Track your registration.
Pay the State Tournament fee
Complete and submit the Media Release Form
All of this can be done online before the Tournament date.
