First grader Peyton Burns, right, is announced the winner of the annual Mojave Max contest during a surprise ceremony at Faith Lutheran Academy in Las Vegas Thursday, April 24, 2014. Burns won the contest by guessing her birth date and time as her prediction when Mojave Max would emerge from its shell, 4:10 p.m. on April 7. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Peyton Burns, right, and her classmate Chloe, sing a song during a school ceremony where Burns was announced the winner of the annual Mojave Max contest at Faith Lutheran Academy in Las Vegas Thursday, April 24, 2014. Burns, a first grader at Faith Lutheran Academy, won the contest by guessing her birth date and time as her prediction when Mojave Max would emerge from its shell, 4:10 p.m. on April 7. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Courtney Burns, left, and her husband Zack are interviewed about their daughter Peyton, winner of the annual Mojave Max contest, during a surprise ceremony at Faith Lutheran Academy in Las Vegas Thursday, April 24, 2014. Peyton, a first grader at Faith Lutheran Academy, won the contest by guessing her birth date and time as her prediction when Mojave Max would emerge from its shell, 4:10 p.m. on April 7. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
First grade student Peyton Burns, bottom row holding the trophy, poses for a class photo after Burns was announced the winner of the Mojave Max contest during a surprise ceremony at Faith Lutheran Academy in Las Vegas Thursday, April 24, 2014. Burns won the contest by guessing her birth date and time as her prediction when Mojave Max would emerge from its shell, 4:10 p.m. on April 7. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Peyton Burns displays her medal after being announced the winner of the Mojave Max contest during a surprise ceremony at Faith Lutheran Academy in Las Vegas Thursday, April 24, 2014. Burns won the contest by guessing her birth date and time as her prediction when Mojave Max would emerge from its shell, 4:10 p.m. on April 7. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Winner medals are presented for first grade student Peyton Burns and her class after Burns was announced the winner of the Mojave Max contest during a surprise ceremony at Faith Lutheran Academy in Las Vegas Thursday, April 24, 2014. Burns won the contest by guessing her birth date and time as her prediction when Mojave Max would emerge from its shell, 4:10 p.m. on April 7. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Peyton Burns poses for photos with the Mojave Max trophy after being announced the winner during a surprise ceremony at Faith Lutheran Academy in Las Vegas Thursday, April 24, 2014. Burns, a first grader at Faith Lutheran Academy, won the contest by guessing her birth date and time as her prediction when Mojave Max would emerge from its shell, 4:10 p.m. on April 7. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Peyton Burns poses for photos with the Mojave Max trophy after being announced the winner during a surprise ceremony at Faith Lutheran Academy in Las Vegas Thursday, April 24, 2014. Burns, a first grader at Faith Lutheran Academy, won the contest by guessing her birth date and time as her prediction when Mojave Max would emerge from its shell, 4:10 p.m. on April 7. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
The Mojave Max winner trophy is displayed during a surprise ceremony at Faith Lutheran Academy in Las Vegas where the winner was announced Thursday, April 24, 2014. Peyton Burns, a first grader at Faith Lutheran Academy, won the contest by guessing her birth date and time as her prediction when Mojave Max would emerge from its shell, 4:10 p.m. on April 7. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
The Mojave Max winner trophy is displayed during a surprise ceremony at Faith Lutheran Academy in Las Vegas where the winner was announced Thursday, April 24, 2014. Peyton Burns, a first grader at Faith Lutheran Academy, won the contest by guessing her birth date and time as her prediction when Mojave Max would emerge from its shell, 4:10 p.m. on April 7. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
A surprise ceremony at Faith Lutheran Academy in Las Vegas announced the winner of the annual Mojave Max contest Thursday, April 24, 2014. Peyton Burns, a first grader at Faith Lutheran Academy, won the contest by guessing her birth date and time as her prediction when Mojave Max would emerge from its shell, 4:10 p.m. on April 7. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Students participate during a surprise ceremony to announce the winner of the annual Mojave Max contest at Faith Lutheran Academy in Las Vegas Thursday, April 24, 2014. Peyton Burns, a first grader at Faith Lutheran Academy, won the contest by guessing her birth date and time as her prediction when Mojave Max would emerge from its shell, 4:10 p.m. on April 7. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Elsa Romero, left, manager at the Mojave Max Education Program, presents first grade student Peyton Burns with a school trophy engraved with her name after being announced the winner of the annual Mojave Max contest during a surprise ceremony at Faith Lutheran Academy in Las Vegas Thursday, April 24, 2014. Burns won the contest by guessing her birth date and time as her prediction when Mojave Max would emerge from its shell, 4:10 p.m. on April 7. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Clark County Commissioner Susan Brager, from top left, Courtney Burns, her husband Zack and their daughter Peyton, pose for a photo after Peyton was announced the winner of the annual Mojave Max contest during a surprise ceremony at Faith Lutheran Academy in Las Vegas Thursday, April 24, 2014. Peyton, a first grader at Faith Lutheran Academy, won the contest by guessing her birth date and time as her prediction when Mojave Max would emerge from its shell, 4:10 p.m. on April 7. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Courtney Burns, center, and her husband Zack, right, walk to the stage after their daughter Peyton was announced the winner of the annual Mojave Max contest during a surprise ceremony at Faith Lutheran Academy in Las Vegas Thursday, April 24, 2014. Peyton, a first grader at Faith Lutheran Academy, won the contest by guessing her birth date and time as her prediction when Mojave Max would emerge from its shell, 4:10 p.m. on April 7. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Students react after their first grade classmate Peyton Burns was announced the winner of the annual Mojave Max contest during a surprise ceremony at Faith Lutheran Academy in Las Vegas Thursday, April 24, 2014. Burns won the contest by guessing her birth date and time as her prediction when Mojave Max would emerge from its shell, 4:10 p.m. on April 7. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
First grader Peyton Burns, center, speaks after being announced the winner of the annual Mojave Max contest during a surprise ceremony at Faith Lutheran Academy in Las Vegas Thursday, April 24, 2014. Burns won the contest by guessing her birth date and time as her prediction when Mojave Max would emerge from its shell, 4:10 p.m. on April 7. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Janis Kadlec, ranger at the Mojave Max Education Program, announces first grader Peyton Burns as the winner of the annual Mojave Max contest during a surprise ceremony at Faith Lutheran Academy in Las Vegas Thursday, April 24, 2014. Burns, a first grader at Faith Lutheran Academy, won the contest by guessing her birth date and time as her prediction when Mojave Max would emerge from its shell, 4:10 p.m. on April 7. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Clark County Commissioner Susan Brager addresses students during a surprise ceremony to announce the winner of the annual Mojave Max contest at Faith Lutheran Academy in Las Vegas Thursday, April 24, 2014. Peyton Burns, a first grader at Faith Lutheran Academy, won the contest by guessing her birth date and time as her prediction when Mojave Max would emerge from its shell, 4:10 p.m. on April 7. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Peyton Burns, center, participates during a surprise ceremony to announce the winner of the annual Mojave Max contest at Faith Lutheran Academy in Las Vegas Thursday, April 24, 2014. Burns, a first grader at Faith Lutheran Academy, won the contest by guessing her birth date and time as her prediction when Mojave Max would emerge from its shell, 4:10 p.m. on April 7. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Principal Matt Fisher addresses students during a surprise ceremony to announce the winner of the annual Mojave Max contest at Faith Lutheran Academy in Las Vegas Thursday, April 24, 2014. Peyton Burns, a first grader at Faith Lutheran Academy, won the contest by guessing her birth date and time as her prediction when Mojave Max would emerge from its shell, 4:10 p.m. on April 7. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Students are directed to their seats during a surprise ceremony to announce the winner of the annual Mojave Max contest at Faith Lutheran Academy in Las Vegas Thursday, April 24, 2014. Peyton Burns, a first grader at Faith Lutheran Academy, won the contest by guessing her birth date and time as her prediction when Mojave Max would emerge from its shell, 4:10 p.m. on April 7. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
As 288 kids poured into the stained-glass-lit assembly area at Las Vegas’ Faith Lutheran Academy, Peyton Burns and her first-grade class sat squirming in the first two rows.
Seven-year-old Peyton — or Petey as her parents call her — sat in the front row, fidgeting with her skirt and turning in her seat to rest her chin on the back of the chair. The room buzzed with children’s chatter.
Principal Matt Fischer called their attention to the stage and introduced a park ranger to talk about Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. He and the rest of the staff didn’t tell the kids the real reason for the assembly.
Peyton was one of 4,589 Clark County students to enter the 2014 Mojave Max Emergence Contest, and she won.
Every year the “spokestortoise’ for the Clark County Desert Conservation Program comes out of brumation — reptile hybernation — and announces the arrival of spring. It’s Clark County’s version of Groundhog Day. Kids are able to enter a contest online and guess the date and time that the 25-year-old tortoise will wake up from his winter slumber.
With help from her mom, Peyton picked the date of her birthday and the exact time she was born. It happened to be the first time any student guessed the exact time and day that Max decided to wake up: 4:10 p.m. on April 7.
“I’m like ‘Oh what if Mojave Max wakes up on my birthday?’ And she’s like ‘What if?’ and I’m just like ‘Ahhh!,’ ” Peyton rambled about choosing the date.
Her distracted smile turned shocked and then nervous when County Commissioner Susan Brager announced Peyton’s name in front of the assembly. She won a laptop computer and digital camera for herself, a laptop for her teacher, and a pizza party and field trip to Red Rock for her class.
“Everyone’s like jumping all over me, giving me hugs, giving me high-fives,” Peyton said as she adjusted her sparkly, silver-starred headband and tugged absently on her wavy blond hair.
Peyton’s class also received Mojave Max T-shirts and medals, and her school will get a Peyton-sized trophy for one year.
“I like when you go on the rocks,” Peyton said about the May 1 field trip. “I like Red Rock, because on a mountain you never usually see like, red rocks.”
Contact Kimber Laux at klaux@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0391. Find her on Twitter: @lauxkimber.
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