Odyssey of the Mind medals and trophies are awarded to the top 3 finishers in each problem and division.
On Saturday, March 15, 2025, Questar III BOCES hosted the New York State Region 4 Odyssey of the Mind Tournament at Coxsackie-Athens Central School District. A total of 34 teams, consisting of 21 schools and 10 school districts across Rensselaer, Columbia, and Greene Counties participated in the annual tournament, competing for a coveted spot to head to the State Finals in Syracuse in April.
The Hoosic Valley Jr./Sr. High School performance for Problem 3 – Division 3 earned the students a 2nd place finish and invitation to the NYS finals.
The 2025 problems included:
- Primary (not scored), “It’s a Wonderful World!”
- Problem 1: Vehicle, “The OM-Mazing Race”
- Problem 2: Technical, “Mech-Animal Sidekick”
- Problem 3: Classics, “Classics… Cooking with Books”
- Problem 4: Structure, “Save Me Structure”
- Problem 5: Performance, “AstronOMical Odyssey!”
Questar III BOCES is proud to announce that 17 Region 4 teams will advance to the New York State Tournament on April 12, 2025. A full list of scores can be found here.
Questar III and HVCC STEM High School competed in the tournament for the very first time. The performance from Problem 3 – Division 3 earned students at 1st place finish and invite to the NYS finals.
Teams Advancing to the NYS Finals:
- Problem 1: The OM-Mazing Race
- Hoosic Valley Elementary School – Division I, 1st place
- Hoosic Valley Jr./Sr. High School – Division II, 1st place
- Greenville Middle School – Division II, 2nd place
- Lansingburgh High School – Division III, 1st place
- Problem 2: Mech-Animal Sidekick
- Donald P. Sutherland Elementary (East Greenbush CSD) – Division I, 1st place
- Rensselaer Park Elementary School (Lansingburgh CSD) – Division I, 2nd place
- Problem 3: Cooking with Books
- Berlin Elementary School – Division I, 1st place
- Troy Middle School – Division II, 1st place
- Questar III & HVCC STEM High School – Division III, 1st place
- Hoosic Valley Jr./Sr. High School – Division III, 2nd place
- Problem 4: Save Me Structure
- Lansingburgh High School – Division III, 1st place
- Problem 5: AstronOMical Odyssey!
- Donald P. Sutherland Elementary (East Greenbush CSD) – Division I, 1st place
- School #18 (Troy CSD) – Division I, 2nd place
- Knickerbocker Middle School (Lansingburgh CSD) – Division II, 1st place
- Troy Middle School – Division II, 2nd place
- Catskill High School – Division III, 1st place
- Questar III & HVCC STEM High School – Division III, 2nd place
Berlin Elementary School students pose with their OMER Award medal.
Each year, teams or individuals can be nominated for an Odyssey of the Mind OMER Award for demonstrating exceptional talent or a dedication to teamwork or sportsmanship. This honor can be awarded to team members, coaches, parents, officials, and others who, by their actions and words, exemplify the spirit of Odyssey of the Mind. Congratulations to this year’s winners:
- Berlin Elementary School
- School 14 (Troy CSD)
Additionally, the Ranatra Fusco Award is presented to an individual or team who demonstrates exceptional creativity in ideas, behavior, or presentation at the tournament. This award is designed to recognize “risk-takers” who are original, creative, and imaginative in their approach to the problem. Congratulations to Hoosic Valley Jr./Sr. High School for winning this year’s award.
Congratulations to all teams who placed in the tournament and good luck to those heading to the state tournament.
