Two freshmen, Mallory Neal and Clara Hauenstein, and junior Oliver Neal found the Winter Blast medallion this morning shortly after 7 a.m. outside by the giving garden on the south side of the academic wing. The medallion was made of plastic and wrapped in tin foil.
Six of the seven clues were released. This is only the second time freshmen have won the medallion hunt. “I’m feeling amazing,” said Mallory, “and proud to represent the freshmen.”
By show of footsteps in the snow, many medallion hunters were close or directly over the prize. Finding it required some digging in the snow. “It was down deep,” said Neal.
Hauenstein said they’ve looked for it every day that new clues were posted with the group reporting a total searching time of about three or four hours, generally about half an hour in the morning and some searching after school as well.
The three share in the prizes of $50 of catered lunch and $100 in gift cards.
Clues explained below:
Clue #1: The medallion hunt began in subzero temperatures. Beyond a general welcoming of spirit week and the unity that brings, a reminder that the medallion can be outside or inside. The green background that reference to Elphaba may have signaled to look for green things, like plants in a garden. Glinda the Good is the witch of the north in the Wicked movies, though not so in the Wicked book, so a student looking on the opposite side of Glinda would be on the correct side of the building.
Clue #2: The reference to the line might have told hunters that it was on the yellow line of the medallion map. Again, the green with verdant and near full length windows for being observant. The arch of the sidewalk nearby and the light post over the spot are named. The trill was a bit of a red herring that led many to the band area, but referred to the sound of birds in the woods across the road.
Clue #3: Pink and green may have led people to the flower bed but the water spigot is also nearby to water the garden. “Eighty grab vending” is an anagram for “by the giving garden.”
Clue #4: Parents waiting in the pick up/drop off line hopefully aren’t blowing their horns. This clue should have confirmed to hunters that the medallion was outside and able to “see” people dressed up for beach day for spirit week through the nearby windows.
Clue #5: The garden is surrounded by a chain link fence thus diamonds ferrous on the south side or opposite of the north star. A hunter would see the neighbor houses from the spot. In truth, there is only one gate, but the garden was built to grow fresh food to donate for the good of our community.
Clue #6: There are ten posts to the garden enclosure and “guardin'” is a homophone as well. Between the second and third posts from the east side and two paces out from the fence. The medallion was wrapped in tin foil and a reminder to be careful with the plants in the garden so as not to dig them up or harm them.