- Two P.K. Yonge elementary Odyssey of the Mind teams qualified for the 2026 World Finals after placing second and sixth at the Florida state competition.
- The 2026 Odyssey of the Mind World Finals will occur May 27-30 in Ames, Iowa, marking a first time two P.K. Yonge elementary teams advanced together.
Two of P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School’s elementary Odyssey of the Mind (OM) teams have clinched spots in the World Finals after successful performances at the state competition on April 4 in Orlando.
In a recent email reply to Mainstreet, Michael Poole, a middle school instructor and OM coordinator at P.K. Yonge, said OM “is an international K-12 competition that culminates in a World Finals event.”
“In Odyssey of the Mind, teams are given open-ended problems that they must solve creatively, using innovative and out-of-the-box thinking,” he said.
According to information submitted to Mainstreet by a parent, P.K. Yonge had six teams competing at the OM state tournament after these teams placed at the regional competition. At the state tournament, one of the school’s elementary teams – Team A6035 – earned second place in the Off the Rails Division I category, while another – Team A6103 – placed sixth in The Epic Quest Division I category, according to the competition results.
Based on those finishes, the two teams have earned the right to advance to the world competition.
Poole said this is the first time P.K. Yonge has had two elementary teams advance to the World Finals. He called it a “significant achievement.”
Megan Miller, a middle school teacher at P.K. Yonge and coach of the elementary second-place team, shared her excitement in seeing both teams of fourth and fifth graders qualify for the world competition.
“Attending [the] World Finals is a celebration of their accomplishments and an opportunity to connect with students from around the world who are tackling the same challenges in uniquely different ways,” she said in an email reply to Mainstreet. “That shared experience builds confidence, creativity, and a powerful sense of global connection.”
The 2026 Odyssey of the Mind World Finals will take place May 27-30 in Ames, Iowa. For more information about the event, visit https://omworldfinals.com/.
Nick Anschultz is a Report for America corps member and writes about education for Mainstreet Daily News. This position is supported by local donations through the Community Catalyst for Local Journalism Fund at the Community Foundation of North Central Florida.