Henderson first-grader wins Mojave Max contest

By Las Vegas Sun Staff (contact)

Published Thursday, April 26, 2012 | 1:31 p.m.

Updated Thursday, April 26, 2012 | 2:18 p.m.

A first-grader at Nate Mack Elementary School in Henderson has emerged as the winner of the 2012 Mojave Max Emergence Contest.

Quinton Larry won the annual contest to pinpoint when Mojave Max, the famed desert tortise, would emerge from his burrow to officially herald the arrival of spring in the desert. More than 3,800 schoolchildren from across the Las Vegas Valley were entered.

Clark County Commissioner Mary Beth Scow made the official announcement in front of Quinton’s first-grade class. “Mojave Max’s late emergence this year indicates we had a late arrival of spring-like weather in Southern Nevada,” Scow said. “I am excited that a student in my district predicted this unusually late date and time for his emergence this year.”

Larry and his class will be rewarded with a field trip, pizza party, Olympic-style medals and T-shirts May 10 at Red Rock National Conservation Area. Larry will also receive his prizes of an outdoor adventure backpack, a digital camera, a year-long pass to federally managed fee areas and a laptop computer. His teacher, Holly Baugh, also will receive a laptop computer.

This year’s contest – the 13th annual – ended at 12:41 p.m. April 17 with Max’s emergence. Larry guessed Mojave Max would first emerge at 12:30 p.m. April 17.

The Mojave Max Education Program is provided by a partnership among Clark County, Clark County School District, the Bureau of Land Management, Red Rock Canyon Interpretive Association and Friends of Red Rock Canyon.