![Junior Joshua Brown takes a picture of an Ebenezer Eagle decoy in the cafeteria on Wednesday, Dec. 11. MSD staff had organized a search for Ebenezer to boost school spirit before the holidays. "I've just been having fun with my friends this week and going around and looking for [Ebenezer]," Brown said. "I think it's a cool way to destress before midterms."](https://eagleeye.news/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ilopc0y6OQzQtgMIFYLehZXjsPfl8iILItDv0Zf6-1200x900.jpg)
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School administration organized a school wide contest for all students throughout the week of Dec. 9 to Friday, Dec. 13. Ebenezer Eagle–named after Ebenezer Scrooge, a character from Charles Dickens novel “A Christmas Carol”–was hidden in different areas of the school every day by staff, before the 7:40 a.m. bell rang.
Students were told to search for the eagle and take a picture with it before uploading it to a google form posted on Canvas. The first student to upload a picture would win that day’s contest, as well as a student who posted the most creative photo with the eagle.
On Monday, the eagle figurine was hung from the ceiling in the cafeteria. Juniors Eashaan Murthy, Elle Makena Naqvi, Kevin Chen and freshman Samuel Auster were the first ones to upload a picture. The most creative picture was awarded to senior Meliyah Pauff and junior Eva Bogart.
Freshman Zachary Glaser was the first person to submit a photo of Ebenezer on Tuesday, with the eagle displayed on a smartboard in the cafeteria. The winners for the most creative picture were juniors Sienna Mader, Jebin Josh, Mia Aviles, Mia Diaz, Paulina Pena and Gabriel Hernandez.
On Wednesday, an Ebenezer decoy was planted in the cafeteria. The paper picture of the eagle successfully confused many students, but Ebenezer was actually hidden in a staff member’s hair. Pauff and junior Logan Siskin captured and submitted the first picture of the eagle and sophomore Tysen Odeh submitted the most creative photo.
Ebenezer was secured in principal Michelle Kefford’s pocket on Thursday. Sophomore Serenity Henry and freshman Genesis Hermoso submitted the first picture, while freshman Ellie Puslifer submitted the most creative picture.
Finally, on Friday, Ebenezer was hidden on a speaker in the main courtyard. Auster found the eagle and submitted a picture first. The competition for the most creative picture ended in a tie between senior Ava Lardi and junior Cooper Roth.
The contest spread holiday spirit throughout MSD and gave students a fun activity to participate in before midterms.
