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.