San Ramon Students Win State Problem-Solving Competition

SAN RAMON, CA — A team of seventh graders from Pine Valley Middle School in San Ramon won two first-place victories in the Odyssey of the Mind California State Tournament, a competition that challenges students to develop creative solutions to complex problems. The team has qualified for the Worlds Tournament at Michigan State University in May.

The team competed in the Middle School Division on the "Astronomical Odyssey" Challenge, which asked them to create a humorous performance set in an imaginary historical civilization of their own design. In the performance, they presented original stories explaining each of a series of constellations.

They also won first place in the spontaneous challenge, a fast-paced challenge testing their ability to think of their feet.

"We are incredibly proud of our team of seventh graders," said Coach Geetha Priya. "They have worked tirelessly, demonstrating exceptional teamwork and creativity. Their dedication to problem-solving and their ability to adapt to unexpected challenges is truly remarkable."

See here to help sponsor their trip to the Worlds Competition.