Editor:

We would like to thank all the parents, student volunteers and school personnel from Brentwood who helped make the recent California Odyssey of the Mind State Tournament on Saturday, April 5 a huge success. Over 200 regional winning teams from all over California came to Heritage High School to compete. Approximately 4,000 people showed up to cheer on their teams.

First, we extend a huge thank-you to the Heritage High School staff, with special thanks to Andy Parsons, principal; Dan Hanel, vice principal; Heather Kuykendall, club advisor; and custodians Lisa Ramirez, Bob Wagoner, Maria Espinoza and Tyrone Allen.

We would also like to thank the Heritage High team members and their families: Shari Daikoku, Den Daikoku, Chad Daikoku, Emily Daikoku, Chris Mort, Sarah Mort, Johanna Mort, Amanda Mort, Deb Lyons, Meg Lyons, Annie Lyons, Gail Sasser, Marc Sasser, Samantha Sasser, Karen Abbadie, and Sara Abbadie and their special friends Justina Babinat, Michelle Favalora, Maddie Hancock, Samantha Harris and Amber Maurice. You all made this event go so smoothly!

We also want to send a very special thanks to the parents and teachers from Brentwood Union School District who helped judge on the day of the event: Scott and Jessica McCurdy, Mary Black, Lisa Mitchener, Lisa Kennealy, Marilyn Tamura, April Koontz and all the Brentwood parent coaches. Without their help, this program could not exist. Also, thanks to the Brentwood OotM team students who volunteered that day at Heritage. Thank you, thank you.

In addition, we want to thank Iris Al-Uqdah and Ivory Hammond of Nana Yum Yum, Sal Listek of Straw Hat Pizza, and Trey Ormsby and Matt Austin of Ribeyes's Market, who supplied some of the fabulous food and drinks for the day. We especially want to thank all four Starbucks locations in Brentwood, which generously donated coffee for the HHS Odyssey of the Mind Club snack bar.

Special thanks also go to Mayor Bob Taylor for his welcoming address at our award ceremony, and to Dick Wildman and Janis Dewar, Odyssey of the Mind San Francisco Bay Regional co-directors, for bringing this wonderful event to our community.

This was a fabulous event and so many Brentwood students were able to enjoy the Odyssey of the Mind experience this year. Hosting an OotM competition in Brentwood has been a dream of ours for many years. Thanks to everyone who made that possible.

Lisa McLaughlin and Lori Mort