Six students from Takoma Park Middle School will compete in the Odyssey of the Mind 1999 World Finals in late May in Knoxville, Tennessee, after winning first place in their category at the Maryland State Finals in Baltimore. They will join 8,000 students from around the world competing for the international title.

The students won their place in the world final using an orange crate and balsa wood to build a small motorized car that visits four countries as it follows the escapades of two con artists peddling a magical lotion in a get-rich-quick scheme. During its journey, the vehicle travels on land, across the sea and over a team-designed mountain. The car kicks off a cultural celebration in each country and brings back souvenirs. The presentation lasts eight minutes.

The team members are: Melis Anahtar, Musaddiq Awan, Dylan Erwin, Jesse Galef, Amy Koran, and Ashley Thomas. Nuray Anahtar, a parent, coached the team.

The team will take their solution to the OM problem, Over the Mountain, which they have worked on after school and weekends since October, to the world competition.

Odyssey of the Mind is an international competition that combines creativity, teamwork and problem-solving skills for students in kindergarten through college.

Last year, Greenwood Elementary School was the first MCPS elementary school to win a state OM championship.