Odyssey Alumni around the world have continued solving problems using the creativity and divergent thinking skills learned during their time in Odyssey of the Mind. Below, enjoy reading a few success stories, and let us know of other alumni accomplishments using the form provided! We would love to feature more successful alumni around the world!
SUCCESS STORIES
#SUCCESSSTORIES
HAVE A SUCCESS STORY? TELL US ABOUT IT:
Odyssey Alum: Josh Hutcherson
Odyssey Alum: Mike Tomlin
Odyssey Alum: Deanne Bell
Odyssey Alum: Ben Wymer
Profession: Actor
Profession: NFL coach
Profession: Television host
Profession: Events Manager, Louis Vuitton
Prior to starring as Peeta Mellark in the unbelievably successful "The Hunger Games" trilogy, actor Josh Hutcherson was an Odyssey of the Mind participant in his home state of Kentucky. Having starred in such films like "Journey to the Center of the Earth" and "The Kids Are All Right" to hosting "Saturday Night Live" and executive producing "Detention" and "The Forger," Josh is a man of many talents. From 8-minute sketches to 2-hour thrillers, there is no doubt that the skills Josh obtained in Odyssey translated to his big screen success, which is one reason why the Odyssey family is defintiely #TeamPeeta!
Association: Kentucky
Association: Virginia
As the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, it is hardly surprising that Mike Tomlin is a former Odyssey of the Mind participant. The skill and spirit of teamwork nurtured in Odyssey is just as important in a long-term problem solution as it is on the playing field of a football stadium. Mike Tomlin's successful run as head coach is proof that the creativity and teamwork learned in Odyssey can infiltrate just about any aspect of life, which is why our Odyssey family is a big fan of the Steelers!
Deanne Bell, who studied to be an engineer at Washington University in St. Louis, has gone on to host a variety of shows including "Smash Lab" on the Discovery Channel, "Money Hunters" on DIY network, "The Egyptian Job" on National Geographic, and "Rise Up" on ESPN. Now, she tours the country promoting science and engineering careers and serves as the Founder and Executive Director of Future Engineers, LLC. From her start in Odyssey at Port Malabar Elementary in Florida to her success in Hollywood today, Deanne is a great example of an alum using her skills learned in Odyssey to inspire others!
Association: Florida
Far from his hometown of Belleville, Illinois, Ben Wymer currently travels the globe - from Milan to Tokyo, Singapore to Seoul - coordinating events for the global luxury brand Louis Vuitton. Based in Paris, France, Ben certainly uses his creativity, sketch writing skills, and eye for design to create memorable brand experiences around the globe. It's no surprise that Odyssey encourages global thinking, creative fashion, and the ability to develop masterpieces on a tight budget, skills that Ben surely uses in his amazing position today!
Association: Illinois
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From a small town in the heart of central New York, Vanessa Richards was a young girl with a big problem when she first joined Odyssey: she was painfully shy. Vanessa found her voice and came out of her shell and was hooked on the program ever since! She participated in mainly the technical problems, and her passion for technology, public speaking, and entertaining was soon born. She stayed in the program from 5th grade until she graduated high school then went on to judge at the New York State Finals the follow year. Vanessa has been a broadcast meteorologist at Spectrum News for 7 years forecasting for CNY, but she can also be seen in New York City and Los Angeles. Odyssey gave Vanessa the confidence to find her voice, and she hasn't been quiet since!