Delaware Valley students thank the district as Odyssey of the Mind teams head to World Finals
May 16, 2026 | Delaware Valley SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania
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Multiple Odyssey of the Mind teams from Delaware Valley Elementary, Middle and High Schools presented at the start of the board meeting to thank the board and administration for district support that enabled their trips to the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals in Iowa.
Tammy Curtis, coach of an elementary OM technical team, thanked the board and superintendent for consistent support and introduced six members who described their skit concept. One student explained the difficulty of fitting props and a robot into suitcases for travel; another said the team’s performance involves historical characters and a comedic mix‑up. The elementary structure team reported that their practice structure held 860 pounds at regionals and 955 pounds on stage, earning a second‑place award; other structure teams reported 980 pounds at states and first‑place results.
High school and middle‑school technical and vehicle teams described engineering challenges and successes: a vehicle built using Arduino to collect cargo, a wearable voice‑activated device, and vehicle teams that won state finals. Coaches and student speakers repeatedly credited the program with building teamwork, technical skills, confidence and college or career plans.
Student voices: Ella, a senior on the tech team bound for Penn State to study aerospace engineering, said OM helped her pick up hands‑on skills she previously avoided; another student said, "Odyssey of the Mind has really changed my life," crediting the program with improved social skills and long‑term academic interest.
Coaches emphasized the expense of traveling to world finals but said the district’s investment was ‘‘well spent’’ and applauded community fundraising and booster support that supplement program costs. The board responded with congratulations and best wishes for the competitions in Iowa.
The student presentations preceded a packed agenda and were followed by routine business, including the budget and capital project discussions.
Tammy Curtis, coach of an elementary OM technical team, thanked the board and superintendent for consistent support and introduced six members who described their skit concept. One student explained the difficulty of fitting props and a robot into suitcases for travel; another said the team’s performance involves historical characters and a comedic mix‑up. The elementary structure team reported that their practice structure held 860 pounds at regionals and 955 pounds on stage, earning a second‑place award; other structure teams reported 980 pounds at states and first‑place results.
High school and middle‑school technical and vehicle teams described engineering challenges and successes: a vehicle built using Arduino to collect cargo, a wearable voice‑activated device, and vehicle teams that won state finals. Coaches and student speakers repeatedly credited the program with building teamwork, technical skills, confidence and college or career plans.
Student voices: Ella, a senior on the tech team bound for Penn State to study aerospace engineering, said OM helped her pick up hands‑on skills she previously avoided; another student said, "Odyssey of the Mind has really changed my life," crediting the program with improved social skills and long‑term academic interest.
Coaches emphasized the expense of traveling to world finals but said the district’s investment was ‘‘well spent’’ and applauded community fundraising and booster support that supplement program costs. The board responded with congratulations and best wishes for the competitions in Iowa.
The student presentations preceded a packed agenda and were followed by routine business, including the budget and capital project discussions.
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