SHERBURNE – When funding at Sherburne-Earlville was cut for the Odyssey of the Mind competition, an international educational program that provides creative problem-solving opportunities for students, the school was left with a tough choice. They didn’t have the money budgeted to fund all of the teams who wanted to go to the competition.

The school decided to hold auditions, and chose which teams would be sent to the regional tournament in Oneonta. Although the school sent several teams, some could not be funded. One such team wouldn’t take no for an answer. The students were told if they could find an outside sponsor and coach they, would still be able to compete. Sherburne-Earlville students Laura Ward, Rachel Walters, Justine Cameron, Mark Wessing, Eric Robertson, Max Paccillo and Amanda Cruz took it upon themselves to accomplish the task. They recruited S-E Drama Club Director Colleen Law-Tefft as their coach and found a sponsor in the Sherburne Rotary Club.

“The kids have done all the work,” said Tefft. The team, made up of seniors, juniors and sophomores, was determined to go to the competition, and they did. After securing their own transportation, the students made the trip to Oneonta for the regional competition on Feb. 24, which started at 7 a.m. and lasted throughout the day.