Piece by Piece, Puzzle Masters Compete in Speed Puzzle Showdown

Freed-Hardeman University students put their puzzle-solving skills to the test racing to complete a 300-piece jigsaw puzzle during the inaugural Speed Puzzle Showdown in the Hope Barber Shull Academic Resource Center in March. The top two teams earned a $50 prize, a custom T-shirt and Girl Scout Cookies. Every team that participated received the puzzle they completed.

Eleven teams of two participated, five for each round, competing in two separate rounds. Some teams arrived with creative names like “Razzle Dazzle,” “We Thought This Was Trivia Night,” “Blessed Are the Piecemakers,” “Rat,” “Piece of Cake,” “Sub 40” and “Puzzling Vectors.” Others simply entered under their own names, including “Anica Riley & Helen Kennedy” and “Mallory Morris & Tristan Mashburn.” The Henderson Campus Ministry from Henderson Church of Christ also fielded a team, even wearing custom headbands with their logos.

Dr. Matthew Sokoloski and Dr. Jared Collins compete representing the Henderson Church of Christ Campus Ministry team.

Tension filled the room during the first round, with all participants quietly focused on the job at hand. Despite the heat in the room—thanks to a struggling air conditioner—competitors persevered to complete their puzzles in impressive times. The mood in the room turned more lively in round two, thanks in part to the return of cool air, with teams talking, laughing and enjoying the competition.

At the end of both rounds, two teams secured their victories. Helen Kennedy and Anica Riley won the first round finishing at 36 minutes, 55 seconds. In the second round, “Puzzling Vectors,” made up of FHU senior Jonna Burrows and Assistant Professor Ben Clark, came in at 46 minutes, 11 seconds, earning second place.

Teams race to be the first to complete a 300-piece jigsaw puzzle.

The Speed Puzzle Showdown was sponsored by Ravensburger AG and organized by the library staff and the Student Library Advisory Board.

Organizers hope to continue this event and work with Ravensburger AG to encourage other libraries to host competitions on their campuses. For information about the FHU library, visit fhu.edu/academics/academic-resources/library.

The Library’s mission is to foster Christian community and scholarship among university students, faculty and staff by providing academic resources and learning opportunities in a nurturing environment.