Each spirit week, the winner takes it all, specifically a shovel. The unconventional trophy has become a beloved tradition at Woodland, but what is the lore behind it? The golden trophy sits in the main lobby of Woodland Regional High School for all to see, in a box by the main office. This idea was originally brought to the school by the late Dr. Arnold Frank: former principal of Woodland as well as the concept of the spirit rock.

 Since then, the beloved artifacts have become some of Woodland’s iconic features. When driving up the hill, families and guests alike drive by the colorful rock on the hill. On the date of Senior Sunrise each year, the senior class paints the rock red and on the date of the annual pep rally (where the winner is crowned with the spirit shovel)the rock is painted black and gold. But again, why a shovel as a grand prize? 

“I believe that the shovel was used to break ground when the school was first being built,” said assistant principal Dr. Dana Mulligan. “It established the Woodland Way and it is the embodiment of spirit week”

Students alike have the opinion that it is not a very good prize for all of the hard work that gets put in during the three day period. 

“I would prefer a donut party or something along the lines of that,” says senior Emily Moore. “It doesn’t make sense why a shovel is the prize.”

Ultimately, the spirit shovel transcends its material value. It serves as a reminder that the true prize of Spirit Week isn’t just a physical reward, but the honor of holding a piece of Woodland’s history and embodying the dedication that built the school community. It’s a tradition that proves, year after year, that while every school might have a cup or a plaque, only Woodland has the gold-plated shovel—a quirky, beloved, and deeply meaningful symbol of school pride.