OMER, Dr. Sam and Spirit Award Winner Dan Semenza were on hand to congratulate and give encouragement to attendees of the OotM Graduation Ceremony.

IN THIS ISSUE

Graduation Ceremony ...........................1

Important Phone Numbers ..................1

Social Media and Website ....................1

Souvenir Stations ....................................1

Team Photography .................................1

For the Love of Odyssey .....................2

Shuttle Schedule ....................................2

Man n' Cheez Special Offer ................3

Weather Forecast...................................3

Award Ceremonies ................................3

Plan Your Free Time ..............................3

Computer Access ...................................3

After Parties .............................................3

Spontaneous Competition..................3

Quilt and Pins ..........................................3

Prop Returns and Shipments .............3

FUN Facts ............................................... 4

Dining Hall Hours .................................. 4

Sports and Swimming ......................... 4

OMER’s World Mobile App ................ 4

Event Schedule ...................................... 4

Checkout Reminders ........................... 4

Heath Services ....................................... 4

Omer’s World News Staff .................. 4

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS Fire, Police,ambulance

911 Emergency ONLY

Greater Lansing Visitors Center (517) 487-6800

MSU Campus Information (517) 355-1855

MSU Physicians Office

Olin Health Center (517) 884-6546

MSU Public Safety

Police Department / Parking (517) 355-2222

Props/Storage Information at

Logistics Central Receiving (517) 884-6082

World Finals Registration

(517) 884-7465

World Finals Information Desk (517) 884-7469

or (517) 884-7470

ON THE WEB

facebook.com/OdysseyHQ

twitter.com/#OdysseyWF

www.odysseyofthemind.com We will be available for team photos during the Creativity Festival at the Jenison Field House and at the Breslin Center. We ask that you have your team pictures taken as early in the week as possible to avoid long lines. Costumes and props are strongly encouraged.

BRESLIN CENTER Saturday, 9:30am - 9:30pm

CREATIVITY FESTIVAL @ JENISON FIELD HOUSE

Saturday, 9:00am - 12:00pm

TEAM PHOTOGRAPHY

ODYSSEY WORLD FINALS GRADUATION A UNIQUE HONOR

When you’re a senior in high school and

your Odyssey of the Mind team makes World Finals, you have to make a choice. Do you stay home and graduate with your class or do you go with your team and have an Odyssey graduation? Both are special occasions for young people celebrating a huge accomplishment, but just which type of graduation ceremony is more special to these Odyssey competitors?

“It’s so incredible to be at World Finals, and I think my team has a good chance to place,” said Zach Culver, a senior from Erie High School in Colorado. “I want my chance to go up on stage and get an award. It’s been a big goal for me. Plus a lot of my friends are here, so this is where I want to be.”

Don’t miss out on the 2015 World Finals Souvenirs for sale throughout the event. A few items that are sure to be a hit in 2015 are the official 2015 Pins, Pin Towels, Hats and new for this year a selfie stick or portable speaker. Take something home with

you to remember your experience as a participant!

Souvenir sales will be open at the following times and locations:International Center LibrarySaturday, 9:00am - 5:00pm

Jenison FieldhouseSaturday, 9:00am - 4:00pm

Creativity Festival, 9:00am - 12:00pmInternational Festival, 12:00pm - 4:00pm

SOUVENIR STATIONS

in Kentucky were in total agreement about where they wanted to have their graduation ceremony. “This is my 5th World Finals with

this team and five of the seven of us are seniors. Most of my memories of senior year are with my Odyssey team and they’re all here!” said Rena Ryumae. Her teammate Mollie Pope said it’s an honor to graduate at World Finals. “Some of my friends aren’t here and my parents aren’t here but this program means so much to me, I just wanted to be here with my team.”

Graduation speakers Dan Semenza and OotM Founder Dr. Sam Micklus understand the sacrifices these young people have made to be here and they had some moving words of encouragement for the graduating seniors. “The

world needs people who really know how to think and solve problems,” said Dr. Sam. “The world needs you. Set your goals in life high – and then go for them with everything you have.”

BY BRENDAN DWYER

For Darcy Kranz of Florida and Zach Culver of Colorado there is no place they'd rather be for graduation than Odyssey of the Mind World Finals.

Darcy Kranz from Seminole High School in Florida is an Official at World Finals this year and Odyssey has been a big part of her life for a long time. When her team qualified she knew what she had to do. “I was a bit torn on what to do but when I thought about it, I had to be with my team and this program means so much, I decided I wanted an Odyssey Graduation.”

Two seniors from The Gatton Academy

Saturday, May 23, 2015 East Lansing, MI

Indian Trails will be operating bus routes throughout the competition connecting the residence halls, problem sites and facilities, parking, recreational facilities and the Breslin Center. There will be two bus routes running on the campus of Michigan State University for participants during World Finals. Please look for the bus hosts to assist you in finding your way around campus.

The Odyssey Bus Route (lime green on your map) will run in each direction and get you to the residence halls and problem sites.

The Orange Route will connect the public parking lots 83, 89 and 91 to the International Center.

Saturday, May 23rd

Odyssey Bus Route: begins at 6:00am and runs until 12:30am

Orange Route (Parking only): begins at 6:00am and runs until 12:30am

Sunday, May 24th

Orange Route (Parking only): begins at 5:00am and runs until 1:00pm

SHUTTLE SCHEDULE

Michigan Flyer (MF) buses will pick up OM participants who made reservations from the MSU campus at the neighborhood bus stop located close to your dorm. Passengers staying in Shaw will be picked up on West Shaw Lane in front of Shaw Hall. Please proceed to the bus stop location and be ready to board the bus at least 15 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time. Group leaders should be ready to give the MF representative your MF Order Number (found on your MF confirmation) and on what airline you will be flying out of Detroit. Judges staying at the Marriott can take the MF from the Marriott to the airport instead of going to the Kellogg Center (Brody location) to board. If you have not been contacted and would like to leave directly from the Marriott please call our office to make that change. If you have any questions or concerns please call 517-333-0400 or visit us at our desk next to Registration at the International Center on Saturday, May 23rd from 10:00am to 3:00pm

Neighborhood Bus Stops:

South Neighborhood (Case, Wilson, Holden) - on Birch Rd. between Wilson and Wonders Hall

Brody (Brody, Rather, Butterfield, Emmons, Armstrong) - on Harrison at CATA stop in front of Brody

East Neighborhood (Akers, Hubbard, Holmes) - on Wilson Rd. at the CATA stop on the side of Akers

West Circle Neighborhood (Yakeley, Landon and Gilchrist) - on W Circle Dr. between Landon and Yakeley

Shaw Hall - on West Shaw Lane in front of Shaw Hall

ATTENTION OMERS TRAVELING WITH MICHIGAN FLYER

OFFICIALS IN IT FOR THE LOVE OF ODYSSEY

According to Odyssey of the Mind founder, Dr. Sam

Micklus, the program’s impetus may have started innocently enough, but he couldn’t have dreamed the impact it would have.

“When we started this, we were just fooling around. We thought it was a one-time thing, but it really hit a nerve.”

And it didn’t just hit a nerve with the world’s youngest problem-solvers, it did so with adults. From problem captains to judges, Odyssey’s many officials have helped make the program what it is today.

A 2015 World Finals official, Amy Owens of Orlando, Florida, competed for three years as a team member and went on to become an assistant coach for her dad’s Division I elementary school team. Today, she’s a very good friend of the one and only OMER! She and her whole family have been heavily involved in Odyssey over the years, and she’s thrilled to see her fellow officials this year at World Finals.

“This is a family reunion and we schedule things around our family reunion!”

Like Amy, World Finals official Dr. Harold Kurtz got involved in Odyssey through

547 E. GRAND RIVER, EAST LANSING517-336-0033

ANY TWO MINI MACS

FOR $8(Additional toppings extra)

BY AMANDA VASAS

a family connection, over 30 years ago when his wife was coaching in Philadelphia. A past Odyssey of the Mind Spirit Award- winner, Harold has served as a state and regional problem captain, association director for New Jersey, secretary for Pennsylvania and has been judging for 26 years. This year, he’s back judging and is in charge of the Graduation Ceremony. Harold continues to marvel at the devotion the officials have for Odyssey and its many participants.

“I just love the program, the opportunity it provides for kids. Creativity can’t be taught,

you have to provide the experiences. This program has affected hundreds of thousands of kids over the years. We officials all pay our own way, give up vacation days to be here and work very long days. It’s just amazing.”

No matter what their background is, adult officials have this in common: they’re in it because they love it and they’re in it for the kids – to nurture their blossoming minds and to give them the time of their lives, year after year.

2015 World Finals official Amy Owens of Orlando, FL

Odyssey veteran Dr. Harold Kurtz of Pennsylvania

An Odyssey team explores MSU's campus.

Odyssey of the Mind 2015 World Finals | Michigan State University

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DON’T MISS THE AFTER PARTIES!

QUILT AND PINS STILL UP FOR WINS

SPONTANEOUS COMPETITION CAUSES PRESSURE, CREATES GEMS

The Odyssey of the Mind After Parties are an exceptional way for participants to end

another fantastic year! The pre-teen (WHITE) after party, hosted at the east end of Cherry Lane Park on the MSU Campus, allows kids to enjoy a variety of inflatable games, live music, and food and beverages! The teen (GREEN) after party, hosted at the west end of Cherry Lane Park on the MSU Campus, provides an opportunity for teens to enjoy a variety of inflatable games, live music, and food and beverages! The Officials after party, hosted the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center, offers live music, hors d’ oeuvres and desserts to their guests.

Creative Opportunities Unlimited (COU), the non-profit organization that helps

fund travel and housing grants to teams (among other great services), will be raffling off 3 pin collections and one quilt made of Odyssey shirts this week with all proceeds going to scholarships, housing/travel grants, and association development grants to help enrich the Odyssey experience for all. Sounds great, right?! Here's how you can participate...

WHERE TO BUY TICKETS: Tickets will be sold at all Odyssey Souvenir’s sites during open hours.

It’s hard to perform under pressure. No one understands that better than Odyssey of the

Mind teams competing in the Spontaneous Competition in the World Finals. But what happens when you apply significant pressure over time to the element Carbon? You get a diamond. Maybe people, and teams, can respond to pressure in the same way; becoming better and more valuable when pressure is applied?

The team from Claymont Elementary School in Delaware was sitting outside Wells Hall Thursday, recovering from rigorous Spontaneous Competition. “Spontaneous is nerve-racking, but if you don’t find a way to relax, you’ll have a meltdown,” said Samveda Menon. Competing in their first World Finals, the team members came prepared for Problem 3, Pandora’s Box. “The anticipation of what we might have to tackle was worse than the problem itself,” said Morgan Weintel. “It also helped that the judges were so nice, they helped put our group at ease.” Through the competition some important truths came to light. “Competition like this helps you see

certain people are good at certain things,” said teammate Kayleigh Head. “Good teams know to use each other's strengths.”

Another team from Oradell Public School in New Jersey had similar thoughts about responding to the pressure of Spontaneous Competition. “With Spontaneous you can’t be confident about exactly what you’ll be doing, but you have confidence in what your team can do,” said Shayna Gordon. Teammate Joseph Lin had additional insight. “Unexpected situations bring out how you react to stress,” said Lin. “You learn something about yourself and your team.”

Teams that make World Finals are pressure-tested and know their teammates from hours of working together which helps them succeed no matter the challenge. “This team has worked so hard to get here,” said Oradell team coach Tracy Schaum. “They worked for hundreds of hours and gave up vacations and weekends preparing for Runaway Train. They’ve handled pressure and by sticking together the whole team got stronger.”

There is one computer lab in each large neighborhood that is available for Odyssey use. The login is “computerlabs\visitor” and password is “visitor”. There is no print access. Computer labs are available to Odyssey of the Mind guests from 7am-10pm at the following locations:Akers - 141 • Brody - 143 • Case - 337

Wireless is available to the Odyssey participants and guests however access will vary based on where you are on campus. Please visit http://techbase.msu.edu/article.asp?id=4254 for all instructions on how to connect to the campus guest network. Wi-Fi is available when you see the MSUnet Guest ID showing as a wireless option in your area.

COMPUTER ACCESS

Saturday: High of 70Mostly Sunny

Sunday: High of 7360% Chance of Rain

WEATHER FORECAST

Teams, coaches, and guests staying

on campus will have reserved Awards

Ceremony tickets in their registration

packets. All others can get their tickets

in advance. Pick up your reserved

seating tickets at the Odyssey of

the Mind Information Booth at the

International Center on Saturday,

May 23rd for Saturday night’s Awards

Ceremony between 8am – 5pm All seats

are reserved. Any tickets still available

after 6 pm can be obtained at the Breslin

Center Ticket Office. Concessions will

be open during the event.

Awards Ceremony will take place at

the Breslin Center from 7:30 pm - 9 pm

AWARD CEREMONIES TICKET INFORMATION

BY BRENDAN DWYER

Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center

Saturday: 8am - 6pm

Visitor Center in East Lansing

A custom 2015 Odyssey pin is available

for participants – come and get yours!

Saturday: 10am - 6pm

Sunday: 11am - 3pm

PLAN YOUR FREE TIME

• UPS/FedEx shipments require a prepaid return shipment label affixed to the each package.

• Shipments returning via common carrier must be shipped “collect”, affix two bill of lading to the prop.

• All cartons must be properly labeled.

• Place all return shipments in the prop staging area of your problem site 30 minutes after the end of your event on Saturday, May 23rd. Logistics will pick-up returns on Sunday, May 24th. Carriers will be able to pick-up return shipments from Logistics on Tuesday, May 26th during business hours (7:30am – 11:45pm and 12:30pm – 3:30pm). MSU and Logistics are not responsible for shipment costs or labeling.

Questions? Please contact 517-884-6082.

PROP RETURN SHIPMENTS:

TICKETS: $1.00 Each

WINNERS ANNOUNCED: The winners of the

raffle will be announced before the Start of the

Awards Ceremony and published in Sunday’s

Omer's World News. You must claim your prize

at the stage prior to the start of the Ceremony.

A LITTLE EXTRA INCENTIVE: For every

ticket sold, you will receive a free ticket for

a complete collection of 2014 pins! This

collection will be awarded during the Float

and Banner parade.

Hanging with Dr. Sam and OMER

Come join the festivities at The Odyssey of the Mind after Parties and celebrate this year’s success!

Saturday, May 23, 2015

3

Scan a QR Code or search Omer's World in your app store.

Use the OotM APP to view the competition schedule and add teams you are interested in to your calendar (Click Competition Schedule from the Home screen or the Competition icon at the bottom. Select the “All” track to see everything or select the problem and the division to see the specific section).

• View the schedule of events and learn about other fun activities at the event.

• Search a specific team or teams from a state or country. You can search using the team member number to find the specific team. You can search teams from one state or country by using the full sate name or country name, like Virginia or China, etc. You can also search by using state code or country code. If you put the code inside “()” like “(VA)”, you will filter out unnecessary entries.

SATURDAY8am - 4pm. . . . . .World Finals Competition

9am - noon . . . . . . . . . . . Creativity Festival

Jenison Fieldhouse

noon - 4pm . . . . . . . . .International Festival

Jenison Fieldhouse

7:30pm - 9:30pm . . . . . . Awards Ceremony

Breslin Center

9:30 pm - 12:30 am . . . . . . . . Preteen Party

Munn Field - white

9:30 pm - 12:30 am . . . . . . . . . . .Teen Party

Munn Field - green

9:30 pm - 1 am . . . Coaches Recovery Party

Kellogg Center

SUNDAY6am - noon . . . . . . . . . . . Housing Checkout

EVENT SCHEDULE

OMER’S WORLD NEWS STAFF

Odyssey of the Mind Editor

Jennifer Veale

Assignment Editor Brandie Putnam

Reporters Suban Nur Cooley

Brendan Dwyer

Brandie Putnam

Amanda Vasas

Design Bring to Design, LLC

bringtodesign.com

Printing & Distribution NEWSWEB

Innovative Media Solutions

Greenville, Michigan

E.W. Sparrow HospitalMedical care is also available through the emergency department of Sparrow Hospital located at 1215 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing.Phone: (517) 364-1000

Sparrow Urgent Care CenterOkemos Center2248 Mt. Hope, Suite 106 (at Okemos Rd.)Phone: (517) 381-4001Hours: Everyday, 10am - 10pm

HEALTH SERVICES

We hope you are enjoying your stay at

MSU! When ready to depart, place your

conference card and key(s) back in the

envelope in which it was given, and give

it to your Team Leader. The Team Leader

will put all of the conference cards and

room key envelopes back in the large

envelope and turn it in to the Service

Center Representative. Please refer to

the newsletter you received with your

check in packet on what you should do

with your room linen. Safe travels!

CHECK-OUT REMINDERSFROM HOUSING

DOWNLOAD THE OotM APP

Android: iOS:

• Know our sponsors. Sponsor ads are displayed in either banner ads or full screen ads. Clicking the ad will show you the details of the sponsor.

• Add yourself as an attendee (Once you register, you are an attendee. You can update your profile for others to see. Your contact information will remain private except your connections.)

• Chat with others (Click the Attendees icon at the bottom; click “All Attendees” to view the list; then, select the Attendee, view their profile, and click Chat.)

• App questions? Visit the AgendaPop Mobile App Help Desk, or email: help@agendapop.com.

Team members and adults staying on campus are able to participate in recreational activities at MSU’s IM East building (basketball, racquetball, volleyball). A room key from the residence hall must be shown to access the pools at IM Circle. Towels are not provided.

IM East saturday hours: 10am - 5pmIM Circle’s indoor pool: noon - 4pm

SPORTS AND SWIMMING

FUN FACTS FROM THE GREAT LAKES STATE• Michigan has more than 11,000 inland

lakes and more than 36,000 miles of streams.

• The Ambassador Bridge was named by Joseph Bower, the person credited with making the bridge a reality, who thought the name "Detroit-Windsor International Bridge" as too long and lacked emotional appeal. Bower wanted to "symbolize the visible expression of friendship of two peoples with like ideas and ideals."

• Michigan has 116 lighthouses and navigational lights.

• Detroit is known as the car capital of the world.

• Alpena is the home of the world's largest cement plant.

• Rogers City boasts the world's largest limestone quarry.

• Elsie is the home of the world's largest registered Holstein dairy herd.

• Forty of the state's 83 counties adjoin at least one of the Great Lakes. Michigan is the only state that touches four of the five Great Lakes.

• Standing anywhere in the state a person is within 85 miles of one of the Great Lakes.

• Michigan includes 56,954 square miles of land area; 1,194 square miles of inland waters; and 38,575 square miles of Great Lakes water area.

• The Upper Michigan Copper Country is the largest commercial deposit of native copper in the world.

• Sault Ste. Marie was established in 1668 making it the oldest town between the Alleghenies and the Rockies.

• Michigan was the first state to provide in its Constitution for the establishment of public libraries.

• Michigan was the first state to guarantee every child the right to tax-paid high school education.

• Flags flown over Michigan: French, English, Spanish and United States.

• Isle Royal Park shelters one of the largest moose herds remaining in the United States.

• Some of the longest bulk freight carriers in the world operate on the Great Lakes. Ore carriers 1,000 feet long sail Michigan's inland seas.

• The 19 chandeliers in the Capitol in Lansing were designed especially for the building by Tiffany's of New York. Weighing between 800-900 pounds apiece they are composed of copper, iron and pewter.

• The first auto traffic tunnel built between two nations was the mile-long Detroit-Windsor tunnel under the Detroit River.

• The world's first international submarine railway tunnel was opened between Port Huron, Michigan and Sarnia, Ontario, Canada in 1891.

• The nation's first regularly scheduled air passage service began operation between Grand Rapids and Detroit in 1926.

• In 1879 Detroit telephone customers were first in the nation to be assigned phone numbers to facilitate handling calls.

• In 1929, the Michigan State Police established the first state police radio system in the world.

• Grand Rapids is home to the 24-foot Leonardo da Vinci horse, called Il Gavallo, it is the largest equestrian bronze sculpture in the Western Hemisphere.

Saturday Breakfast: 6:00am - 9:00am Lunch: 11:00am - 2:00pm Dinner: 4:30pm - 7:00pm

Sunday To Go Breakfast: 5:00am - 7:00amDine In Breakfast: 7:00am - 9:00am

DINING HALL HOURS

Odyssey of the Mind 2015 World Finals | Michigan State University

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