THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, June 3, 1996 TAG: 9606030050
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KIA MORGAN ALLEN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 80 lines
A team of Cape Henry Collegiate students returned as world champions Sunday - not from sweaty challenges on athletic fields, but from a grueling competition of the mind.
``I'm just really excited,'' said Lauren Schiff, 13, one of a seven-member team who won the nod of the judges at the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals over the weekend in Iowa.
The other team from Hampton Roads that made it to the finals, Cox High School, ranked 19th out of 40 teams in its division.
The problem-solving contest puts teams of students head-to-head, encouraging them to use their minds, hands and imaginations to find creative, hands-on solutions to mental and practical challenges. Students work during the school year on an eight-minute skit to present at the competition. When they get there, they also face a spontaneous problem-solving exercise.
Sunday night, the Cape Henry crew returned home. They were greeted as heroes when they arrived at Norfolk International Airport.
Teachers, brothers, sisters, moms and dads waited with balloons and signs. One read: ``Best minds at the beach and in the world.''
As the seven students entered the airport concourse, a roar of applause erupted. The students wore gold Olympic-style medals around their necks. All laughed and some cried. They also carried the prized symbol of victory: a large, gold trophy.
``I am absolutely elated,'' said Peg Warren, team coach and mother of Mandi Warren, a team member. ``These kids worked so hard, and boy, do they deserve this award.''
Rachael Wagner, 14, agreed.
``I think we deserved it. I've been doing this for five years and nothing is as exciting as winning (the) worlds.''
Besides Warren and Wagner, team members included Elizabeth Siteman, 12, Anne Ruehrmund, 13, Lauren Schiff, 13, Brian Fry, 14, and Lauren Fisher, 13.
Many tiring, late-night practices led to the big day, but the students remained in high spirits.
``I never lost confidence,'' said Mandi Warren, 14. ``And I feel great.''
The Cape Henry students were among more than 5,000 participants from across the United States and more than 20 foreign countries. An estimated 13,000 people attended the world competition, at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.
Odyssey of the Mind was started by a New Jersey college professor 18 years ago and has grown to include more than 1 million students from kindergarten through college. Competition extends from local through international levels.
Teams in four age-based divisions must solve problems in areas ranging from building mechanical devices to interpreting literary classics. The program encourages teamwork, decision-making and self-confidence.
The Cox and Cape Henry contingents, along with 11 other teams from Virginia, rose through several levels of competition to qualify for the international event.
The Cape Henry students worked all year on an eight-minute skit to take to the competition, a comic tall tale starring a Southern belle named Ginger Vitis and a hero named Listerine.
During the competition, each group also was given a problem and asked to find an on-the-spot solution. The Cape Henry students had to create a non-verbal communication system with Ping Pong-type balls, a snorkle and other odds and ends. Their ability to think fast and quickly assemble the parts put the Virginia Beach group over the top.
``This is a tremendous effort on the part of our students and coaches,'' said Dan Richardson, the school administrator. ``This is a testimony to their hard work.''
Others shared his pride - even though they were from other schools.
``I am so pleased for Cape Henry,'' said Gail Azor, whose son attends Kemps Landing Magnet School and competed against Cape Henry in an earlier competition. ``To me, this is the most wonderful thing a group of students can do. It's creative brainstorming.''
Cape Henry Collegiate, a private school, has competed in the Odyssey of the Mind competition for seven years, said Richardson, and placed second in the world competition in 1994. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by LAWRENCE JACKSON/The Virginian-Pilot
In 1994, Cape Henry placed second in the world. This time, they're
No. 1 - so Sunday's homecoming was especially sweet.
KEYWORDS: ODYSSEY OF THE MIND by CNB