2008 Woodie Awards
Student takes a spin and wins big on 'Wheel of Fortune'
Tatianah Green
Issue date: 5/5/08 Section: News
Media Credit: ABCGetting a Bankrupt wasn't enough to derail Mark Grotto from winning over $30,000 in Wheel of Fortune.
During the game show Wheel of Fortune, UIC student Mark Grotto got a chance to live his childhood dream and win big. Wheel of Fortune came to Chicago to film episodes for its College Week and Grotto was chosen among many to be a part of it.
"My dad and I would always make it a priority to watch it together back in the day and we still did that up until the day I went to college," says Grotto.
Grotto, a second-year finance and political science major, shares his experience in the audition process, which consisted of two main auditions. Grotto put his application at the "Wheel mobile" and was chosen by "luck of the draw" to solve puzzles on stage in order to proceed to the next audition. Grotto was chosen to come back with nearly 60 other people to show their personalities and complete a puzzle test and game simulation.
"It was hard! Of 16 puzzles, I probably got only three and a half," says Grotto. After a few weeks of checking the mail, Grotto finally got his invitation to be a Wheel contestant.
Grotto enjoyed his time on the show and behind the scenes. "The whole crew was amazing! Everyone said that College Week is their favorite because the contestants actually chat with each other and enjoy the process," says Grotto.
After 25 years, you'd think host Pat Sajak and co-host Vanna White would be different from what they show on TV, but Grotto says they were very nice and that they work well together.
"No disrespect to them but I thought they'd be taller because TV made them seem as if they are tall," shares Grotto. As for the famous wheel itself: "the wheel is a little heavier than some would think. We had to practice spinning it beforehand and it was fun to see everyone's facial expressions when they spun it for the first time," he says.
The highlights of the show included Mark Grotto getting a "Bankrupt" and then making a big comeback with winnings over $30,000 in one round. As Grotto approached the final puzzle for a grand prize, he missed by a few letters: the answer was the phrase "Quiet Down." Though he lost the chance to win a Pontiac Solstice roadster, Grotto won $33,650, all in cash. So what is he going to do with all the money?
"I'm setting aside the money I have to pay for taxes and going on a shopping spree with about 10 percent of the remaining money. The rest I'm going to invest. After all, I am a finance major" says Grotto.
Overall, people nationwide got a chance to see a UIC student win big on the renowned game show. Grotto, who wore a UIC sweatshirt, thought it was not a burden to represent the university but was a little disappointed that his fellow students couldn't be in the audience during the taping. His only regret, being caught up in the excitement of the show, was forgetting to show Pat Sajak a homemade shirt that reads "I spun Pat's Wheel!" that Grotto was wearing under his UIC gear. "I will never forget that because I was really looking forward to see his reaction."
Nevertheless, it won't be an experience he will forget. "It was just a lifelong dream that finally came true," proclaimed Grotto.
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"My dad and I would always make it a priority to watch it together back in the day and we still did that up until the day I went to college," says Grotto.
Grotto, a second-year finance and political science major, shares his experience in the audition process, which consisted of two main auditions. Grotto put his application at the "Wheel mobile" and was chosen by "luck of the draw" to solve puzzles on stage in order to proceed to the next audition. Grotto was chosen to come back with nearly 60 other people to show their personalities and complete a puzzle test and game simulation.
"It was hard! Of 16 puzzles, I probably got only three and a half," says Grotto. After a few weeks of checking the mail, Grotto finally got his invitation to be a Wheel contestant.
Grotto enjoyed his time on the show and behind the scenes. "The whole crew was amazing! Everyone said that College Week is their favorite because the contestants actually chat with each other and enjoy the process," says Grotto.
After 25 years, you'd think host Pat Sajak and co-host Vanna White would be different from what they show on TV, but Grotto says they were very nice and that they work well together.
"No disrespect to them but I thought they'd be taller because TV made them seem as if they are tall," shares Grotto. As for the famous wheel itself: "the wheel is a little heavier than some would think. We had to practice spinning it beforehand and it was fun to see everyone's facial expressions when they spun it for the first time," he says.
The highlights of the show included Mark Grotto getting a "Bankrupt" and then making a big comeback with winnings over $30,000 in one round. As Grotto approached the final puzzle for a grand prize, he missed by a few letters: the answer was the phrase "Quiet Down." Though he lost the chance to win a Pontiac Solstice roadster, Grotto won $33,650, all in cash. So what is he going to do with all the money?
"I'm setting aside the money I have to pay for taxes and going on a shopping spree with about 10 percent of the remaining money. The rest I'm going to invest. After all, I am a finance major" says Grotto.
Overall, people nationwide got a chance to see a UIC student win big on the renowned game show. Grotto, who wore a UIC sweatshirt, thought it was not a burden to represent the university but was a little disappointed that his fellow students couldn't be in the audience during the taping. His only regret, being caught up in the excitement of the show, was forgetting to show Pat Sajak a homemade shirt that reads "I spun Pat's Wheel!" that Grotto was wearing under his UIC gear. "I will never forget that because I was really looking forward to see his reaction."
Nevertheless, it won't be an experience he will forget. "It was just a lifelong dream that finally came true," proclaimed Grotto.
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