This story package showcases, for an alumni audience, their fellow alumni who are at the top of their game in various aspects of puzzlemaking. One story goes inside a top-notch escape room, using current Stanford students as stand-ins for the reader. Another profiles Stanford's most prolific New York Times crossword constructor and invites alumni to complete a custom puzzle he constructed for our magazine. A third reports on two jigsaw puzzle companies run by alumni—and these are no ordinary cardboard 1,000-piece puzzles, but, rather, intricate wooden puzzles made with whimsy pieces and vintage flair. The bookends to the package are about those who do, rather than make, puzzles at an elite level: A longtime captain and contestant of Team USA (puzzle edition) who collects mechanical puzzles and a recent arrival on the speed-jigsaw scene who has quickly established herself as a contender. It's a perfect summertime package that gives readers the opportunity to dive deeply into a set of pastimes they may enjoy, but have probably never had the opportunity to think about in such behind-the-scenes detail.
From the Judges
We appreciated the creative use of puzzles as a unifying theme to highlight alumni accomplishments and experiences. The concept gave the submission a distinctive identity while showcasing the impressive work and impact of the individuals featured. It felt thoughtfully tailored to the intended audience, and the theme carried consistently throughout the piece.
