“Where’s Waldo” has come to Northwestern.
Well, sort of. Instead of finding Waldo amid random people in strange places, students can now search for Ned Price around NW’s campus the second Thursday of each month.
“I was brainstorming with our regional marketing coordinator, trying to come up with fun ideas that would get students interested in what was happening with our social media sites and at the same time introduce them to some of our staff,” said Hilary Horigan, Sodexo’s catering manager.
Price, the cafeteria’s general manager, took up the challenge as a way to be more involved with the student body.
“Where’s Ned” happened a few times last semester. The first time Price hid no one found him. He stayed in hiding for an hour and a half before giving up. As much as he enjoyed the long break, he figured he should get back to work.
“I was in the bookstore,” Price said. “I was tweeting out pictures and no one found me, but we figured that would happen the first time.”
Jessica Rayela won the search contest last Thursday. She found Price on the bench by the sand volleyball court on ther way to the Hub.
Jessica Rayela was the winner of the search contest last Thursday. She found Price on the bench by the sand volleyball court on her way to the Hub. Rayela saw flyers that week and vaguely heard about “Where’s Ned” last year. She investigated campus dining’s Facebook and Instagram pages, determined to win.
“I’m a pretty competitive person,” Rayela said. “I was bound and determined to find Ned on Thursday.”
She did it in record time. Other students did not even start the search for Ned by the time Rayela had found him. Rayela’s prize is to enjoy free ice cream sundaes from the Hub for the rest of the semester.
“The more students who play, the better the prizes will be,” Horigan said.
Sodexo is also adding a new component this year. The monthly winner who takes the funniest picture with Price will receive a grand prize.
“I wanted to set the bar high with the first picture,” Rayela said.
“Where’s Ned” clues will pop up on Facebook and Instagram at 11:30 a.m. each Thursday. The first student to find Price will win. Each month, Prices’ location will get progressively harder.
“I picked an easier location on this one,” Price said. “I promise you, they will get harder, and we are going to take you places on campus that you normally don’t go.”
For a chance to win, tune in to the clues by following “Northwestern College Campus Dining” on Facebook and Instagram.