Quaker Valley OM Team Raising Funds to Support Trip to Competition

A team of local students have advanced to the Odyssey of the Mind “Worlds Competition” and are actively raising funds to support their trip.

The seven-member team, coached by Jeff Christensen, will head to the 2013 finals May 22 to May 25 at Michigan State University.

The team includes Lilly Capezzuto, Stella Christensen, Ilijana Hasak, Jhon Freddy Krebs, Owen Petronick and Taylor Retzlaff from Osborne Elementary and Isabella Bock from Montessori Children’s Community. 

The third graders placed first in regionals, and second in the state competition. The international educational program provides creative problem-solving opportunities for students to apply their creativity to solve problems. Thousands of teams from the United States and about 30 countries participate each year. 

In 34 years, the Quaker Valley team is only the third to ever qualify for “Worlds.” Team Christensen is also the youngest.

The community can support the trip with the following fundraisers:

Car Wash and Bake Sale—9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 4 at Osborne Elementary. There will be ice cream available in the afternoon donated by Sewickley Confectionery.

Eat Local Raffle—tickets can be purchased on Saturday, May 4 at Osborne Elementary, or at other community events scheduled in May. Raffle tickets will be one for $5, three for $10, 10 for $20, 25 for $50 and 50 for $100.

The winner will receive gift certificates for at least 15 local eateries. Restaurants so far include: Sideliners, Sewickley Pizza Roma, Andora’s, The Sewickley Café, Burgatory, China Palace, East Coast Sandwich, Subway, Café De Amis, 424 Walnut Street (formerly Sweetwater Grill), Mike’s Place, Rook’s East Side Saloon, The Oven, Azul, and Frank’s Pizzeria.

Hoagie Sale—the team will be selling hoagies throughout the community. Hoagie orders can be placed at any fundraising event or at Osborne Elementary. Italian and veggie hoagies are available for $5 and turkey hoagies for $6.

Deadline to order is Wednesday, May 10. Hoagies will be available for pick up from noon to 2 p.m or 4:30 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 16 at Osborne Elementary. Payment is required when ordering.

The team has received some support from Quaker Valley School District and Osborne HSA, plus a matching grant from the Sewickley Valley Community Fund to help cover some of the expenses involved.

Team Christensen has also partnered with Team Spencer to walk in the “Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community" to support ABOARD’s Autism Connection of PA on Saturday, May 18.

The group will help raise awareness of the walk and raise funds at Stage AE. Stephen Crane, father of Spencer Crane, for whom the team is named, and Charlie who is also an OM participant, will personally make a donation to Team Christensen for the support. Click here more information.

If you would like to support Team Christensen with a personal donation, make your check payable to Quaker Valley School District (Team Christensen on Memo) and mail to Osborne Elementary, 1414 Beaver St., Sewickley PA 15143.

For more information or to follow the teams, click here. 

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