SEND VA STATE CHAMPS TO THE ODYSSEY WORLD FINALS!

Co-organized

Odyssey of the Mind Team Women in IP Network and Kirsten Braun are organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

Have you heard the exciting news?! An amazing team of fourth and fifth-grade students from Arlington, Virginia has spent the past few months iterating and perfecting a solution to a technical Odyssey of the Mind long-term problem. Odyssey of the Mind is an international creative problem-solving competition. This incredible team of girls is sponsored by the DC Chapter of the Women in IP Network (WIN). WIN DC's mission is to be a positive, personal, professional network, changing IP law for the better. Women in IP Network is supportive of our team of aspiring young women engineers and inventors.

For the solution, the team developed a Rube Goldberg machine that pumps ingredients into a vessel initiating a chain of actions including a pulley system, flipping a switch that they wired, raising a shoe to kick over a bucket, and ultimately making slime! To accompany their machine, they built a laboratory setting; and developed a humorous 8-minute performance with a cast of 7 characters wearing team-designed and engineered costumes. The Odyssey experience has taught these girls that they can achieve big goals with determination and hard work. It has given them opportunities for collaboration and developing strong leadership skills.

The team’s inventive solution and dynamic presentation won FIRST PLACE at the Virginia State Tournament for their problem/division! The team also won a special award, called the Ranatra Fusca, for OUTSTANDING creativity at the Northern Virginia East Regional Tournament. Their win at the State Tournament qualifies the team to advance to the Odyssey of the Mind WORLD FINALS held at Michigan State University on May 24-28.

Now, we are raising funds to send the team to the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals in Michigan.

Our total costs for the trip will be approximately $16,000 for the tournament fees, lodging in a college dorm, flights to and from Michigan, ground transportation, transporting the solution materials and meals for the kids, coaches and chaperones during the four-day competition.

Donations can be made here to support the team, so they can go compete against students from all over the U.S. and around the world!

The team is extremely grateful for any donation or expression of support. Thank you! Many thanks for supporting the team on this incredible accomplishment and journey!