There is a new Problem 3 International Problem Captain, Matt Lopez. While being an IPC is a new position within Odyssey of the Mind, Matt is a long-time member of the Odyssey family. Combining his time as a competitor and a judge, he's been involved with the program for 22 years.

He competed on a team starting in fourth grade and continued until graduating high school. From then, he volunteered as an official and continued volunteering for various positions for the past 14 years. He is also a member of the NYSOMA board and an official at the regional and state levels.

Matt has worked on every level and in many volunteer positions within the program, proving that there is no “small” role in Odyssey. Every volunteer has an important role in helping students express their creativity.

Outgoing Problem Captain Rita Sleeman believes Matt is prepared to take on this new position, “Matt is a perfect fit for the role of IPC due to his experience as both an OMER and his involvement as an official at all levels. He is a team player who easily connects with teams and judges. He has a good sense of humor and looks at all sides of a problem to solve it. He is a natural addition to the OotM IPC team.”

When he’s not busy within OotM, Matt is also working hard in other aspects of his life. He has worked as a math teacher for the past nine years. He also has directed the middle school musical for his school for five years and works as the school’s OotM coordinator. He’s been married for two years and recently celebrated the birth of his first child.

He has many goals in this new position, “I would like to increase public awareness of the Odyssey of the Mind program, as I feel it is very beneficial to helping kids develop their creativity and work as part of a team, all while creating lasting friendships along the way.”