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Sussex Academy Odyssey of the Mind teams advance to state tournament

Gathered outside Providence Creek Academy are Sussex Academy seventh-grade Odyssey of the Mind team members (l-r) Kate Wilson, Zoey Shenoy, Neil Shenoy, Alyssa McKain, Joel Denham, Catherine Ellis and Jordan Buchanan. SUBMITTED PHOTOS
April 2, 2025

After earning fourth-place finishes in the state qualifying tournament, both Sussex Academy Odyssey of the Mind teams are now heading to the state finals Saturday, April 5.

OM is a collaborative problem-solving competition that focuses on STEM, the arts and history. Students solve spontaneous and long-term problems that include performances and building structures.

Sussex Academy’s sixth-grade team, comprising students Jackson Cohen, Sarah Wiggins, Aubrey Farkas, Eshaal Atif and Diego Chaplin, completed the AstronOMical Odyssey long-term problem. Students created a historical civilization that presents constellations and original stories explaining each one.

Sussex Academy’s seventh-grade team, comprising Kate Wilson, Zoey Shenoy, Neil Shenoy, Alyssa McKain, Joel Denham, Catherine Ellis and Jordan Buchanan, completed the Mech-Animal Sidekick problem, in which they designed, built and operated an original robotic animal that makes people happy.

Sixth-grade coach Channel Chaplin said students showcased their critical thinking, creativity and teamwork, and their hard work paid off, as both teams will advance to the state finals, where they will compete to earn a place at the Odyssey of the Mind world finals in May at Michigan State University.

 

Working on their robot are Sussex Academy students (l-r) Zoey Shenoy, Neil Shenoy, Catherine Ellis and Joel Denham.
Neil Shenoy of the seventh-grade team adjusts a robotic animal in the Mech-Animal Sidekick problem.
Sussex Academy students (l-r) Aubrey Farkas, Sarah Wiggins, Diego Chaplin and Jackson Cohen gather at the state qualifying event held at Providence Creek Academy in Clayton March 8.
Gathered at the Odyssey of the Mind state qualifying tournament are Sussex Academy students (l-r) Jackson Cohen, Sarah Wiggins, Aubrey Farkas, Eshaal Atif and Diego Chaplin.
Sussex Academy’s sixth-grade Odyssey of the Mind team, comprising (l-r) Aubrey Farkas, Eshaal Atif, Sarah Wiggins, Diego Chaplin, Jackson Cohen, coach Channel Chaplin and coach Elise Farkas, earned fourth place in the state qualifying tournament and will advance to the state final April 5.

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