[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 99 (Wednesday, July 6, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1235]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING THE EAU CLAIR SOUTH MIDDLE SCHOOL ODYSSEY OF THE MIND 
                                  TEAM

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON KIND

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 6, 2011

  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Eau Claire South 
Middle School Odyssey of the Mind Team that took fifth place at the 
2011 World Finals held at the University of Maryland. Odyssey of the 
Mind is an educational program that challenges students to creative 
problem-solving challenges. The competition takes place first at the 
local level and moves onto a state and world competition for groups 
that succeed. The Eau Claire team was the only group from Wisconsin to 
make it to the worldwide competition where they placed fifth overall. 
They were one of only two teams to place in the entire Midwest 
division.
  The team competed in a challenge entitled ``Full Circle,'' which 
required the team to create a humorous skit while completing numerous 
challenges. The first challenge was having something change form three 
times during the presentation before returning to its original form. 
The skit also had to include a funny character, a serious character, a 
song and dance, and a surprising ending. All of this had to be worked 
together into one presentation.
  Not only did the team have to prepare a challenge in advance, but 
they had to compete in a spontaneous challenge that they were presented 
with immediately before their performance. After competing in both the 
main challenge entitled ``Full Circle,'' and the spontaneous challenge, 
they came in fifth place among schools from all over the world. I am 
proud of the Eau Claire South Middle School team and their 
accomplishment. Hopefully, it will be the first of many successes in 
these young students' lives.

                          ____________________