Fourth-grade student Lillian Schern of Somerset Academy | Sky Pointe will be recognized as the winner of the 2020 Mojave Max Emergence Contest on Tuesday, April 21st at 10 a.m. Lillian was surprised by the news from her teacher, Ms. Erin Bybee.

This event congratulates the student who most closely estimated when Mojave Max would emerge from his burrow this year.

More than 5,500 students entered the 21st Mojave Max Emergence Contest, which ended on Wednesday, April 1 at 11:39 a.m. with Mojave Max’s emergence. Lillian guessed that Max would emerge on April 1 at 11:32 a.m.

“This is the 21st year that we’ve had this contest, and a whole generation of Southern Nevadans has grown up on Mojave Max,” said Department of Environment and Sustainability Director Marci Henson. “I want to congratulate Lillian. This contest gives all participants a greater appreciation for protecting our desert environment.”

Given the unusual set of circumstances presented by the COVID-19 emergency situation, the winner’s entire class will be receiving a “virtual” field trip. Staff from the Springs Preserve will give a virtual tour where Lillian and her classmates will get to ‘meet’ Mojave Max during the event. Local news personality and good friend to Mojave Max Nathan Tannenbaum will be online to emcee the event and the winner will receive her prizes, including: a year-long family membership to the Springs Preserve, a year-long “America the Beautiful” pass from the National Park Service to all national parks and federal recreation areas, a backpack filled with outdoor goodies and a laptop computer. The winner’s teacher will also receive a laptop computer.

The Mojave Max Education Program is sponsored by a partnership between Clark County, Springs Preserve, Get Outdoors Nevada and the Clark County School District.