December 5, 2008 – The National Training and Simulation Association (NTSA) Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) was held December 1 through 4, 2008 in Orlando, FL. Traditionally, the trade show and conference provides an in-depth look at current training and simulation practices, and highlights new technology trends.

This year was different.

This year ASTi held its first-ever I/ITSEC scavenger hunt.

Over four glorious days in the Florida sunshine, ASTi asked its customers and other I/ITSEC attendees to scrounge, beg, borrow and plead for seemingly-random trinkets on a list. Never mind that few (if any) participants ever wandered out of the convention center into actual sunshine. A completed scavenger hunt list was the brass ring which each comer yearned to clutch near his heart.

More than 100 intrepid souls braved the (lack of) elements navigating the conference hall, and visiting no fewer than seven of ASTi's customer and partner companies in this inaugural quest. But there could be only one true victor, only his name wasn't Victor.

It was Steve.

He was the vanquisher of the list, the champion of the tournament, and will be known throughout the land (for at least the next few minutes) as The Holder of the iPod Touch. Having narrowly edged out his closest competitor by one item, the winner of ASTi's I/ITSEC 2008 Scavenger Hunt is Steve Hauenstein of J.F. Taylor, Inc.

Congratulations on a job well done, sir.

Next year, ASTi is looking to double the number of partner companies involved in the 2nd Annual I/ITSEC Scavenger Hunt. There will be a bigger list, bigger and more spectacular prizes, less of a challenge, and much more fun, possibly involving wetsuits and mayonnaise.