Engineering freshman Matt Berger won a treasure hunt last week, but rather than receiving a T-shirt or candy, he landed a $1,000 check.
Berger, along with about 120 other students, participated in the Weiss Tech House's newest cash-giveaway competition - its week-long $1,000 Innovative Treasure Hunt.
In order to win the competition, participants racked up points by answering questions and participating in Innovation Week events.
The events the participants could attend to earn points were "packaged to show the different aspects of the innovation process," according to Tech House Director Anne Stamer.
The questions were split up into two categories - daily-clue questions and photo-clue questions. All questions had to do with innovation.
Each day, the participants received questions in e-mails that, if answered correctly, earned them points.
They also received the photo clues, which hinted at places of which contestants could take pictures to earn points.
The treasure hunt was the newest addition to the Tech House's annual Innovation Week and was meant to increase awareness of the Tech House, according to Jenny Brennan, the Tech House's spokeswoman.
The scavenger hunt "was meant to excite people about innovation and let them see what we've got going on here," Brennan said.
The second-place contestant won a Xootr Scootr, a scooter that was invented by the faculty director of the Tech House, Karl Ulrich.
An Nguyen, an Engineering senior and the Tech House's marketing chairwoman, said that, although the Tech House is located in the Engineering School's Levine Hall, it is open to all University students, and the competition was meant to "rebrand" it as a resource that anyone can use.
"We're here to help students start their own businesses, whether they're Engineering students or College students," she said.
The competition was organized by a group of eight Wharton freshmen for their Marketing 100 class in conjunction with the Tech House.
Many of the organizers of the event thought it was very successful.
Nguyen said she thought it was an "overall success," although next year she would like to bring in a "big keynote speaker to kick off the event."
She said she has movie director George Lucas in mind.
And Matt Berger had lots of praise for the treasure hunt.
"This is so money," he said upon receiving his check.
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
DonatePlease note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.