USD Students Won Prizes in Campus Scavenger Hunt

Ten students secured $2,000 donations for campus organizations during a university-wide scavenger hunt.

Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Philanthropy

Bold vector editorial illustration of a university courtyard, a student silhouette, and a metallic keychain icon, representing a campus charitable scavenger hunt. — Ten University of San Diego students earned $2,000 donations for their respective campus organizations by participating in a university-wide scavenger hunt. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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University of San Diego students participated in a campus-wide scavenger hunt on October 6 to support local student organizations. Ten participants successfully located hidden keychains, each triggering a $2,000 donation for their chosen groups.

Why it matters

This event served as a creative initiative for the University of San Diego annual giving program to engage the student body. The scavenger hunt fostered community participation while directing essential funding toward various campus-based clubs and teams.

Ten students were awarded prizes following the hunt, with each winner securing a $2,000 contribution for their selected student organization. The event involved 10 hidden keychains dispersed across the San Diego campus.

The players

University of San Diego

This is a private Roman Catholic university located in San Diego, California.

Men's rowing team

This is a competitive collegiate athletic team that received one of the $2,000 prizes.

National Society of Black Engineers

This organization is a professional society that secured a $2,000 prize through the hunt.

Delta Sigma Pi

This is a professional business fraternity that earned a $2,000 donation during the event.

The details

Participants traversed the campus on foot, on bicycles, or in vehicles, coordinating their efforts to track claimed locations. The search led students to various sites, including the pickleball courts near the Palomar Health Student Wellness Center and the Founder's Chapel.

The scavenger hunt took place on October 6, 2026.
A keychain was discovered near the pickleball courts at 10:30 a.m.
The final keychain was located in Founder's Chapel at 2:40 p.m.

Market Landscape

This event mirrors the gamification trends currently utilized by institutional advancement departments to drive philanthropic engagement. By integrating competitive activities into the annual giving cycle, the university strengthens its brand loyalty among the student population.

The event directly benefited various student-led campus organizations by providing a significant $2,000 financial boost to their annual budgets. Future iterations of this program may offer similar opportunities for students to earn funding for their preferred clubs.

The takeaway

Gamified philanthropic events provide a tangible way for students to secure funding for their campus organizations through direct participation. These programs help bridge the gap between university giving goals and the immediate needs of active student clubs.