NYSOMA Scholarship Winners - 2023
Through donations and raffle sales, NYSOMA sponsors a Scholarship program for participants of Odyssey of the Mind in New York. Applicants must currently be high school seniors or first year post-secondary school enrollees. This year each award is $1,000.
This year applicants were challenged to create a lively, entertaining, and creative video that will show teams everything they need to know about participating in an Odyssey Tournament.
These Omer’s really rose to that challenge and produced some fantastic videos.
Alex DeMagistris
Alex is from Johnstown, NY (Region 21) where he has been competing in the Odyssey of the Mind program for eight years.
Over the years, Alex has been competing with the same team in Problem one, going to States every year, and World Finals four times. Just last year, Alex was the winner of the New York OM Pin Designing contest, designing the New York Letter set.
Alex is beyond thankful for everything Odyssey of the Mind has taught him like how to think outside the box and how to be confident, but also how it has introduced him to his best friends: his team.
Next fall, Alex will be attending a university majoring in Secondary Education in Mathematics where he aspires to be a High School Math Teacher.
Meryl Palinkas
Meryl is a Senior at Pine Bush High School, Pine Bush, NY (Region 5).
She has done Odyssey for eight years; four years doing structure and four years doing theatrical. During that time, she’s been to States five times (would've been six if not for the pandemic!) and made it to Worlds three times. Her team won a Ranatra Fusca in 2021 for the creativity and cohesion of their virtual skit.
Odyssey of the Mind has been the most formative, endurance testing, friendship building, creative, incredible experience she could have ever put herself through.
"This really isn't just an after-school club, it's a lifestyle and a culture".
Meryl will be attending Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY this coming fall, and majoring in Art History.
Lauren Lamberson
Lauren Lamberson is from Rochester, NY (Region 14) and has participated in Odyssey of the Mind for six years!
Lauren has competed at regionals and states. In region 14, her team has come in 2nd place twice and 3rd place three times with problems three and five.
"Odyssey is an opportunity to think creatively, learn how to work as a team and gain essential organization and communication skills."
Lauren is very grateful for her time in Odyssey.
Lauren will be studying biomedical engineering in college this fall.
