by Cindy A. Abole, Public Relations
PA
students Carey Connor, left, and Sarah Groeschel settle into the CBS studio
ticket line in anticipation to enter The Price is Right game show. On spring
break vacation, Connor won more than $6,500 in prizes.
It isn't easy to get before the cameras of one of the country's most popular television game shows.
Carey Connor and Sarah Groeschel, first-year students in the College of Health Professions' Physician Assistant program, will tell you it takes ingenuity, perseverance and luck.
And they might confess to you that an artful knack is a big help.
When they set out to appear on The Price is Right, they discovered that the price is also steep for game show contestants.
Since they were going to California during spring break to visit a friend, they thought they might as well try and get a seat in the audience. So, with a push by friends and classmates, the pair requested tickets three months in advance.
Obtaining the tickets was the easy part.
But these intrepid gamesters are built of strong stuff and like typical PA students, are used to it all.
They camped out on the street one night to become one of the 300 eligible contestants on the show.
After a rigorous morning of waiting and standing in lines, Connor and Groeschel found themselves interviewing with the director's staff.
That's when they pulled their ace-in-the-hole: a silk-screened T-shirt with a photograph of Connor, Groeschel and show host Bob Barker. The student's image was real but Barker's image was scanned into the photo by fellow MUSC students.
That was enough to draw the attention of Barker and his staff. He was so curious about the picture, Connor said with a laugh. It was almost as if he was trying to remember that moment and meeting us.
Conner gave one of the T-shirts to Barker as a souvenir. She got her moment of glory in front of the camera and won $6,500 in prizes. Even though Groeschel was not a contestant, Connor shared her winnings. She kept the aroma/spa steamer room and a dinette set. Groeschel got a clock and tennis ball machine.
I feel I've gained a newfound respect for the TV game show audience, said Connor. Richer by experience and prizes, they both feel they will continue to be faithful fans.