Scholarship

Odyssey of the Mind impacts everyone that is involved.  The experience, life lessons, and spirit gained as a participant in Odyssey of the Mind carries well beyond the student involvement.  Students become mentors, coaches, parents, future volunteers, and leaders beyond the Odyssey of The Mind family.

East Central Pennsylvania Regional Odyssey of the Mind (OotM) program sponsors scholarship opportunities for one student per year for $750.00.  This opportunity is intended to celebrate participants of the program who have demonstrated exemplary problem-solving skills, creativity, good sportsmanship, perseverance, and teamwork.  The scholarship program is intended to support these individuals as they continue their education and growth.

Scholarship Criteria

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Current team member and have been a team member for at least 2 of the last 4 years in the Odyssey of the Mind program (one of which must be in the East Central Pennsylvania Region).  Participation can be on a team or otherwise engaged in supporting OotM.
• Must be continuing their education on a full-time basis at a university, college, community college, post-secondary technical or trade school, or a specialized post-secondary educational institution.
• Must be a high school senior or a student who will be continuing their education after high school within the next academic year.
• Must provide all submission requirements as listed in this scholarship application form.

Eligible applicants must submit one (1) original and one (1) copy of the following to the merchandise table at the East Central Pennsylvania Regional OM Tournament at Millersville University on Saturday, March 7^th, 2026.

• Completed application form (as attached).  This includes a summary of your participation as a member for at least 2 of the last 4 years in the Odyssey of the Mind program of which one must be in the East Central Pennsylvania Region.  Participation must be in 2 of the following academic school years  2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/2025, 2025/2026.
• The applicant will complete a 1–3-minute video at the tournament answering an extemporaneous question provided just prior to the video at the tournament. You will be given 2 minutes to formulate your answer after the question is provided.  A tournament official will be the videographer.  The video will be judged on creativity and originality.  No preparation is necessary and the only investment required is 5-7 minutes of your time.

Video Judging Parameters

All videos will be reviewed by the selection committee, which consists of members of the East Central Pennsylvania Regional Board of Directors. Selection committee members may not be related to any applicant, teachers of any applicant, or Odyssey of the Mind coaches of any applicants.  The winner(s) will be announced at the Awards Ceremony.

All questions should be sent to:

Rob Lowrie
prob4pc.ec@paodyssey.com

All scholarship funds will be disbursed directly to the chosen educational institution upon receipt of the 1^st semester or 1^st academic period schedule and bill.  This may be submitted after the scholarship application but no later than September 25, 2026.

If a scholarship recipient is not enrolled at an educational institution for the fall 2026 academic semester, or cannot use the scholarship, the allocated funds will be moved to the succeeding year scholarship program.