A team of seven students from Shenandoah Elementary School in Penn Hills will compete in the Odyssey of the Mind world finals.

The Shenandoah team will face competitors from North America and four other continents May 31 through June 3 at the University of Maryland in College Park.

Shenandoah advanced through the regional and state finals earlier this year. It is the first elementary school team from the Penn Hills district to qualify for the world finals.

Odyssey of the Mind is an annual problem-solving competition for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Each team prepares a creative solution to a detailed problem.

Competitors also must provide a solution to a spontaneous problem presented on the day of the competition.

This year's problem, "The Wonderful Muses," asked competitors to stage an original theatrical performance that includes, among other things, one of the nine muses in Greek mythology and a historical figure inspired by that muse.

The Shenandoah team is made up of fifth-graders Kristen Lubawski, Joe Novak and Jade Reese; fourth-graders Tori Remmick and Madison Salego; Emily White, a third-grader; and Sarah Salego, a second-grader. The fifth-graders are Odyssey veterans, going as far as states in previous years.

Their coach is second-grade teacher Teresa Ellis. Parents Amie Lubawski and Laura White are assistant coaches.

The team's theatrical production focuses on Urania, the muse of astronomy and astrology. Its members handled all aspects of the production -- from research and scriptwriting to acting, costumes, scenery and props.

The production goes well beyond the basic requirements of the competition, said Ms. Lubawski. She said the students incorporated four other muses into their script -- history, poetry, tragedy and dance -- as well as examples of the creativity inspired by those muses.

"We're one of very few teams that has more than the one required muse," she said.

Ms. Lubawski said the Odyssey of the Mind competition attracts students who not only are "great thinkers," but have many abilities. "Some are quick-witted, some are artistic." Just as important, she said, is their ability to work as a team.

"The contributions of the younger members of the team are just as important as those of the older students."

The Penn Hills district has an impressive history with the Odyssey of the Mind competition. Two high school teams and one middle school team have advanced to the world finals.

To have an elementary team get there is "a tremendous achievement for the students, their parents and their coach," said Penn Hills Superintendent Patricia Gennari.

Fund-raising efforts to support the team's trip to Maryland are under way. All proceeds from Saturday's swim session at the Olympic Swim Club in Penn Hills will go to the team.

A car wash fund-raiser will run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Arby's, Saltsburg Road.

Donations may be sent to Shenandoah-Odyssey of the Mind, 700 Idaho Ave., Verona 15147.