Ultimate Giant: Week one was amazing … but there’s a long way to go!

Patricia GibsonMHSAA News

Week one of the Ultimate Giant competition was amazing. The $10,000 matching funds grant was fulfilled within 24 hours. The endowments grew by more than $25,000 in a week. More than 500 votes have been cast on Facebook for the best decade.

Way to go, Giants!

This was a great first week, no doubt. But we have a long way to go. And we can only get there together! If you haven’t already participated, we hope the information below will inspire you to do so now! (And if you’ve already participated, we’re betting you haven’t maxed out your possible points … so consider other ways to get involved!)

This competition lasts through July 2016. Read on for a closer look at some of the highlights from the first week. (The points listed are what would be awarded if the competition had ended with these results. To review the rules/points possible, click here.) And don’t cut out early: Keep scrolling! At the bottom of this post you’ll see who would be the winner, based on these categories, if the competition ended today!

 

(Rule 1) Facebook likes (as of 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6):

Ultimate Giant decades_1990s

  1. 1990s (187 likes) = 100 points
  2. 1980s (77 likes) = 90 points
  3. 2000s (60 likes) = 80 points
  4. 2010s (43 likes) = 70 points
  5. 1970s (42 likes) = 60 points
  6. 1960s (33 likes) = 50 points
  7. 1950s (4 likes) = 50 points
  8. pre-1930s (3 likes) = 50 points

(1930s and 1940s would receive no points for this category, because there were no likes on those photos yet.)

 

(Rule 6) Individual with most money raised (in the running to be named the Ultimate Giant):

  1. (tie) Jeff Harris (Class of 1982) and Jeff Southworth (Class of 1980), at $8,000 each Ultimate Giant decades_1980s
  2. the Class of 1970 (given anonymously), at $3,574
  3. Alan Beck (Class of 1997), at $400
  4. Karen Taylor (Class of 1984), at $255.93
  5. (tie) Julie Fauser (Class of 1980), Willadean Duncan (Class of 1971), and Christine Willman (Class of ?), at $200
  6. Tade Powell (Class of 1989) at $175
  7. the Class of 1975 (given anonymously) $125
  8. (tie) Bill Barley (Class of 1970), Terry Ivey (Class of 1973 – in honor of Joe Guth), Jena Adrianson (Class of 1970 – in honor of Joe Guth), Karl & Linda Holloway (Class of ? – in honor of Joe Guth), Tim Wendt (Class of ? – in honor of Joe Guth), Vella Jo Price (Class of 1972 – in honor of Joe Guth), Diana & Joseph Guth (Class of ? – in honor of Joe Guth), and Jay & Cathryn Buck (Class of ? – in honor of Joe Guth)

This would earn their corresponding decades the following points:

  1. 1980s = 100
  2. 1970s = 90
  3. 1990s = 80

 

(Rule 8) Class with the most money raised for the academics endowment: Ultimate Giant decades_1970s

  1. 1970 ($1,242.88) = 100 points
  2. 1980 ($66.66) = 90 points
  3. 2010 ($16.67) = 80 points
  4. (tie) 2012/2021 ($16.66) = 70 points

(All other classes would receive no points for this category at this point.)

This would also earn the corresponding decades the following points:

  1. 1970s = 100 points
  2. 1980s = 90 points
  3. 2010s = 80 points
  4. 2020s = 70 points

 

(Rule 9) Class with the most money raised for the arts endowment: Ultimate Giant decades_1970s

  1. 1970 ($1,367.00) = 100 points
  2. 1980 ($66.66) = 90 points
  3. 2010 ($16.67) = 80
  4. (tie) 2012/2021 ($16.66) = 70

(All other classes would receive no points for this category at this point.)

This would also earn the corresponding decades the following points:

  1. 1970s = 100 points
  2. 1980s = 90 points
  3. 2010s = 80 points
  4. 2020s = 70 points

 

(Rule 10) Class with the most money raised for the athletics endowment: 

  1. 1980 ($8,066.66) = 100 pointsUltimate Giant decades_1980s
  2. 1982 ($8,000) = 90 points
  3. 1970 ($1,217.01) = 80 points
  4. 1997 ($400) = 70 points
  5. 1984 ($255.93) = 60 points
  6. (tie) 2010/2012/2021 ($16.66) = 50 points

(All other classes would receive no points for this category at this point.)

This would also earn the corresponding decades the following points:

  1. 1980s = 100 points
  2. 1970s = 90 points
  3. 1990s = 80 points
  4. 2010s = 70 points
  5. 2020s = 60 points

 

(Rule 11) Most resourceful class (Giant Wish List donations): Ultimate Giant decades_1970s

  1. 1971 ($200) = 100 points
  2. 1970 (225) = 90 points
  3. 1989 ($175) = 80 points
  4. 1973 ($100) = 70 points
  5. 1972 ($50) = 60 points

(All other classes would receive no points for this category at this point.)

This would also earn the corresponding decades the following points:

  1. 1970s = 100 points
  2. 1980s = 90 points

These donations, and some of the gifts to the arts endowment above as well, reflect one of the great stories coming out of this competition:

Joe Guth, former MHS band director.

Joe Guth, former MHS band director.

Many of these gifts were given in the name of the late Mr. Joe Guth, band director at MHS who led the Marching Giants to a State Fair win in 1969. He died earlier this year, and several Giant alumni who were influenced by him as young musicians donated to help provide opportunities for today’s Giant musicians. What a great thing! Giants helping Giants. Exactly what this competition is all about!

 

(Rule 12) Class with the most members of the MHSAA: 

  1. 1960 (27) = 100 points
  2. 1964 (20) = 90 points
  3. 1962 (10) = 80 points
  4. 1970 (6) = 70 points
  5. 1949 (4) = 60 points

All other classes with members would earn 50 points each:

  • 1932
  • 1940
  • 1943
  • 1950
  • 1952
  • 1954
  • 1955
  • 1957
  • 1963
  • 1965
  • 1967
  • 1968
  • 1971
  • 1973
  • 1974
  • 1975
  • 1976
  • 1978
  • 1979
  • 1980
  • 1982
  • 1983
  • 1988
  • 1989
  • 1993
  • 1994
  • 1997
  • 1998
  • 2001
  • 2003

The decade with the most members is as follows:

  1. 1960s = 100 pointsUltimate Giant decades_1960s
  2. 1970s = 90 points
  3. (tie) 1980s/1990s = 80 points
  4. 1940s = 60

All other decades with members would earn 50 points:

  • 1930s
  • 1950s
  • 2000s

 

AND THE WINNER WOULD BE …

It’s early in the game, but let’s have a little fun. Based only on those categories you see here, if the competition had ended Friday, here’s a look at who would’ve won:

  • ULTIMATE GIANT: Jeff Harris and Jeff Southworth would have ended in a tie for the title!
  • ULTIMATE DECADE: 1980s (by a very slim margin!)

Ultimate Giant decades_1980s

Here’s a look at the points earned from these categories if the competition had ended Friday:

  • 1980s = 640
  • 1970s = 630
  • 1990s = 340
  • 2010s = 300
  • 2020s = 200
  • 1960s = 150
  • 2000s = 130
  • 1950s = 100
  • 1940s = 60
  • 1930s = 50
  • pre-1930s = 50

 

How YOU can get in the game!

There’s still time, and as you can see, no one is running away with the game yet! The 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s are all ahead in one category or another. And there’s plenty of opportunity to give as an individual and break into the top 10!

If you haven’t participated yet, we hope you do. (And we hope these stats give you some kindling to stoke the fire with your classmates, too! A little friendly rivalry never hurt anyone … and it can help so many people now and for years to come!)

>> Click here to review the rules / points possible.

We’re looking for GIANT things here, but we have faith that the Giant Nation can accomplish it!

Stay tuned for more updates as the contest progresses.