LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating Voorheesville Middle School upon
the occasion of capturing First Place at the Odyssey of the Mind World
Finals Competition

WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to commend and pay
tribute to those young people who have inspired and brought pride to our
majestic Empire State by achieving outstanding success in educational
competition; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to congratu-
late the Voorheesville Middle School Odyssey of the Mind Team upon the
occasion of capturing First Place at the Odyssey of the Mind World
Finals Tournament held at the University of Maryland on May 27-30, 2011;
and
WHEREAS, Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational program
that provides creative problem-solving opportunities for students from
kindergarten through high school; students apply their creativity to
solve problems that range from building mechanical devices to presenting
their own interpretation of literary classics, then bring their
solutions to competition on the local, state, and World level; thousands
of teams from throughout the United States and around the world partic-
ipate in the program; and
WHEREAS, The Voorheesville Middle School team members include 7th
grader, Sadye Goldfarb, and 8th graders, Ben Mackay, Lydia Parker, Erik
Patak, and Alex Relyea, and was coached by Jean Mackay; and
WHEREAS, The students had to come up with a creative solution to a
given problem on their own, develop and write a script, design their own
props, and then perform it; and
WHEREAS, The Voorheesville Middle School scored first among 64 teams
in the Middle School Division, edging out an outstanding team from
Singapore and last year's winning school from Hong Kong, who placed
second and third respectively; and
WHEREAS, Voorheesville's team competed at the regional and state level
to earn the right to represent New York State at the World Finals compe-
tition, and was the only team representing New York to win first place
at the competition, which drew more than 850 teams from around the
United States and 15 countries; and
WHEREAS, Poised eagerly with enthusiasm and determined purpose, these
scholars now stand honorably, with just pride in their accomplishments
and in eager anticipation of future challenges, understanding and appre-
ciating the caring counsel and support provided by their teachers, fami-
ly and friends; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate Voorheesville Middle School upon the occasion of capturing
First Place at the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals Competition, and
offer them its best wishes for a future of purposeful success and well-
being; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Voorheesville Middle School Odyssey of the Mind Team.