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Goshen scoops Odyssey awards

| 13 Mar 2013 | 02:43
    The winning team from C. J. Hooker Middle School: Freddi Semel, Kate Laskoski, Darcy McDowell, Abigail Lewis, Hannah Welshoff, Mackenzie Kurek, and Reilly Miller.
    The winning team from C. J. Hooker Middle School: Freddi Semel, Kate Laskoski, Darcy McDowell, Abigail Lewis, Hannah Welshoff, Mackenzie Kurek, and Reilly Miller.
    An award of honor was presented to the district in honor of former assistant superintendent Jane Unhjem. The award was received by Unhjem’s husband, Erik Unhjem, and children, Gayle and Matthew, as well as Dr. Frank Sheboy, assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction, technology and personnel. The award was presented by Theresa Reynolds, Orange-Ulster BOCES assistant superintendent for instruction. Photo by Elizabeth Xanthis, Orange-Ulster BOCES.
    An award of honor was presented to the district in honor of former assistant superintendent Jane Unhjem. The award was received by Unhjem’s husband, Erik Unhjem, and children, Gayle and Matthew, as well as Dr. Frank Sheboy, assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction, technology and personnel. The award was presented by Theresa Reynolds, Orange-Ulster BOCES assistant superintendent for instruction. Photo by Elizabeth Xanthis, Orange-Ulster BOCES.
    The Unhjems with Dr. Frank Sheboy and several of Goshen’s Odyssey team members and coaches. Photo by Elizabeth Xanthis, Orange-Ulster BOCES.
    The Unhjems with Dr. Frank Sheboy and several of Goshen’s Odyssey team members and coaches. Photo by Elizabeth Xanthis, Orange-Ulster BOCES.

GOSHEN — Seven teams from the Goshen Central School District competed with outstanding results in the Odyssey of the Mind Regional Competition on March 2 at Orange-Ulster BOCES.

The district had one first-place win, four second-place wins, one third-place win, and one fifth-place win.

The first-place team from C.J. Hooker Middle School performed the long-term problem “It’s How You Look at It.” Team members Mackenzie Kurek, Kate Laskoski, Abigail Lewis, Darcy McDowell, Reilly Miller, Freddi Semel and Hannah Welshoff created and presented an original humorous performance that includes two characters that act naturally — to them — but odd to those around them.

The music-based storyline, narrated by the conductor (Kate Laskoski) explores a world where music is not united. Bass and treble live and sing separately. Hoping to become a rock star, Bryce Bass (Reilly Miller) leaves Bass Town and travels to Soprano City, where he is greeted by the mayor (Hannah Welshoff) and some colorful town members (Mackenzie Kurek and Freddi Semel). Bryce ends up in jail because he sings low and makes the whole town go flat. He also shatters the Holy Note, causing all the pieces to go into space.

Luckily, the Chordstellation (Darcy McDowell and Abigail Lewis) finds the note pieces and creates harmony with her odd habit of collecting and connecting. Bass and treble are united, and all live happily ever after. Throughout the skit, a metronome keeps time and signals the odd and normal behavior.

Other honors
The team also won the Ranatra Fusca Creativity Award, presented to teams or individuals who exhibit exceptional creativity, either through some aspect of their problem solution, or an extraordinary idea beyond the problem solution. The award represents the essence of the Odyssey of the Mind.

The team will compete at the New York State Competition on March 23 at SUNY Binghamton.

The second-place team from Goshen High School, “ARTchitecture: The Musical,” also took home a special award. The team won the OMER’s Award in recognition of individuals or teams who demonstrate outstanding sportsmanship, exemplary behavior, or exceptional talent.

In addition to the students’ accolades, Orange-Ulster BOCES presented an award in honor of Jane Unhjem, former assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, to honor her dedication and commitment to the Odyssey of the Mind program. She served as a judge for many years.

The award was accepted by Dr. Frank Sheboy, assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction, technology and personnel, and Jane's husband, Erik, and children, Gayle and Matthew. Unhjem died as a result of injuries sustained in a plane crash in August 2012.