The Northern Star’s annual Treasure Hunt has officially come to a close.
From April 7 through 11, clues hinting at the Northern Star paperweight’s location were revealed to point students toward the right spot on the treasure hunt.
Early Friday morning, junior psychology major Ellie Papandria’s, senior public health major Molly Schmidt’s and junior anthropology and art history major Alia Moran’s search came to fruition when they found the paperweight hidden beneath a bench next to the Art Building, Jack Arends Hall.
“It took about, like, four days-ish. We kind of knew where it was, but, you know, we kept going back and we eventually got it,” Moran said.
The group found day three’s clue to be the most helpful. The clue read “Sparrow sung with a high note in the morning. ‘Aye!’ his mateys called with cheer. But arrr, singing is hard work for a pirate. Luckily, his first mate made him a cup for tea. No more, no more, no more, no more they said as he got ready to hit the ocean’s road.”
“I think the third clue helped us the most with, like, the ‘aye,’ ‘arr,’ ‘tea’ and then the references to Jack, like Jack Sparrow and ‘Hit the Road Jack,’ because that really pointed us to the Art Building at the Jack Arends,” Schmidt said.
During the Treasure Hunt, a Northern Star paperweight is hidden somewhere outside on NIU’s campus. Participants will not need to climb, go into water or dig anything up. The labeled weight will not be on private property.
The winners of the hunt received over $200 worth of gift cards and various merchandise. The prizes included donations from University Plaza, Varsity Square, Mason Properties, Hunter Star Properties, Culver’s, Pittsley Realty, El Jimador, Burger Naan, Buffalo Wild Wings, Chili’s, Fatty’s Pub and Grille, American Liquors, Panera Bread and the NIU Alumni Association.
The Treasure Hunt will return next spring when a new hiding spot is chosen and new clues will be revealed.
