Brookland, AR – JonesboroRightNow.com – The Brookland Odyssey of the Mind (OM) Booster Club is calling on the community for support as they prepare to send several teams to the 2026 World Finals this May.
Following years of consistent success on the international stage, all seven of the school district’s OM teams have once again advanced through state competitions and are charting a course for Iowa State University, where the World Finals will be held from May 27 to May 30.
The teams are working to raise approximately $45,000 to cover essential expenses, including student and coach room and board. According to Chelsea Mealer, director of the OM program, that figure barely scratches the surface of the trip’s true cost. She told JRN that team registration alone costs $3,750, and each hotel room costs $630.
“That doesn’t include transportation, food, or anything else that is needed while we’re there,” she said.
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The teams also have to transport their own props across the country, requiring two 20-foot trailers for the journey to Iowa.
OM is a competition that fosters creativity and innovation in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math. Brookland’s competitors, also known as OMERS after the program’s raccoon mascot, range from 2nd to 11th grade. The students dedicate the year to writing scripts, designing intricate costumes, and building working props, often using collected trash items to construct their creations.
During competitions, students must present prepared long-term projects, such as building a working vehicle that travels specific distances, and tackle spontaneous problems that require quick, critical thinking. Mealer noted that the students excel under pressure by leaning on their personal interests.
“A lot of them will just have different things that they are good at, and so [they] are experts at [them],” she said. “Some of them may be sports, some of them may be video games, some of them may be movies or songs, and they just take those strengths and make sure to use those for any creative answer.”
To bridge the financial gap, the program is hosting an OM Spring Camp from April 13 to April 17, where new campers can get a taste of the problem-solving competition for a $100 entry fee.
Following the camp, the community is invited to the Brookland Showcase and Spaghetti Night on Saturday, April 18, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event will feature performances from all the teams, a pre-ordered spaghetti supper served by the students, donation jars, and auction items donated by local businesses.
The Booster Club is also actively seeking corporate and individual sponsorships, offering a tiered program ranging from a $100 “OM Supporter” up to a $2,500 “OMER Sponsor” level.
One unique tier is the $250 “Pin Trading Sponsor,” which highlights a World Finals tradition that is huge among students. Mealer said pin trading allows them to meet people from around the world.
“Not only are you gonna trade a pin with them, but you’re also getting to talk with these students about their country,” she said.
For Mealer, community support offers more than just financial relief; it validates the hard work of students who shine outside of traditional athletics.
“I think it’s very important for our community to be supportive, just because it’s not a sport necessarily, and so for them to be supported, for them using their brains and problem-solving skills, or those are truly life skills that they need,” she said. “Having the community’s support helps them feel more confident and more excited to do what they can do.”
There are other ways that community members can support the Brookland OM teams in addition to the showcase on April 18:
Online: Payments can be made via PayPal to @brooklandootm
Mail: Checks can be made payable to Brookland OM Booster Club and mailed to Elizabeth Wade, 200 W. School St., Brookland, AR 72417. For more information, contact brooklandootm@gmail.com.
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