Senate Resolution No. 2648

BY: Senator WALCZYK

CONGRATULATING the members of the Broadalbin-Perth
High School Odyssey of the Mind team upon the
occasion of their victory at the Odyssey of the Mind
World Championship

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to act in accord
with its long-standing traditions, honoring the youth of today and
leaders of tomorrow, whose character and achievements best exemplify the
ideals and values cherished by this great State and Nation; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to congratulate the
members of the Broadalbin-Perth High School Odyssey of the Mind team
upon the occasion of their victory at the Odyssey of the Mind World
Championship; the event was held May 20-24, 2024, at Iowa State
University; and

WHEREAS, Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational program
in which students from kindergarten through college learn how to think
divergently by working as a team to solve an open-ended problem; and

WHEREAS, As part of the Odyssey of the Mind program, students also
learn creativity, innovation, problem-solving, critical thinking, global
awareness, interpersonal and collaborative communication skills,
self-direction, and adaptability; and

WHEREAS, This Division 3 team competed in Problem 2, entitled "AI
Tech-NO-Art," which challenged teams to design, build, and operate a
device that determines if a work of art is beautiful or not; the device
needed to dismantle a work of art that it decides is not beautiful to
create a new work of art it believes is beautiful; and

WHEREAS, In addition to taking home the first-place trophy, the team
also won a Ranatra Fusca Award for exceptional creativity; they were one
of only four teams at the World Finals to receive a Ranatra Fusca, and
the only team from the United States to do so; the Broadalbin-Perth team
also won a Ranatra Fusca at the New York State Championships, a
testament to their unwavering dedication and ingenuity; and

WHEREAS, The triumphant Broadalbin-Perth High School Odyssey of the
Mind Team members are: seniors, Logan Aery, Lauryn Donahue, Blaine
Herrick, and Jacob Hughes; junior, Ryan Michalski; and coaches, Carl and
Alison Aery; and

WHEREAS, This momentous occasion marks the first team in
Broadalbin-Perth history to win a world championship and was the team's
fourth consecutive trip to the World Finals; 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 appreciating the caring counsel and support provided
by their coaches, teachers, family, and friends; and

WHEREAS, Educational competition instills the values of teamwork and
accomplishment, and these outstanding students have clearly made a
contribution to the spirit of excellence which is a tradition of their
school; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate the members of the Broadalbin-Perth High School Odyssey of
the Mind team upon the occasion of their victory at the Odyssey of the
Mind World Championship; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the aforementioned members and coaches of the
Broadalbin-Perth High School Odyssey of the Mind Team.