[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 20, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E856]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      IN HONOR OF FREEDOM HIGH SCHOOL'S ODYSSEY OF THE MIND WORLD 
                           CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. BARBARA COMSTOCK

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 20, 2017

  Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize a group of students 
from Freedom High School, who recently won the Odyssey of the Mind 
World Championship on May 27, 2017. Leading up to this global 
competition in Michigan, the Freedom High School team won a Virginia 
Regional competition as well as the Virginia state championship, and 
these extraordinary achievements show how far dedication, hard work, 
and commitment to teamwork can take a group as they competed with some 
of the best student teams across the world.
  The Odyssey of the Mind World Championship is a STEM-based scholastic 
competition in which students devise innovative solutions to 
challenges, such as assembling vehicles and integrating them into timed 
skits. These problems and programs allow students to convert their 
ideas and knowledge into tangible results in a stimulating and 
competitive atmosphere. During the world championship, each team 
participated in three competitions, including a spontaneous problem 
solving challenge, a style competition, and finally a long term 
problem, which the team has worked on for 6 to 7 months.
  Under the leadership of Coaches Bill and Judy Munley, Freedom High 
School's championship winning team consisted of seniors Michael Munley, 
Aditi Shukla, Manisha Kusuma, Apekchha Pradhan and juniors Virginia 
Campbell, Zander Rodriguez, and Sarana Adhikari. While the team has 
qualified for 5 world competitions in the past 10 years, this is the 
only Loudoun County team to ever win the championship at the global 
level.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring Freedom 
High School's Odyssey of the Mind team for winning the Odyssey of the 
Mind World Championship and representing Virginia's 10th Congressional 
District with such distinction. I wish Bill, Judy, and the entire team 
the best in their future endeavors.

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