Pat, I Would Like to Buy a 'Woooo': College Week is “Wheel” Deal for Two Fulbright Students

Greg Renick called the Hogs in front of Pat Sajak, Vanna White and a packed studio audience. Candace Scott braved tornadoes to drive to New Orleans so she could be on Wheel of Fortune.

The two seniors represented the University of Arkansas as contestants during the game show’s annual “College Week” programs, which will air the week of May 9-13. Renick’s show will be broadcast on Thursday, May 12, and Scott can be seen Friday, May 13.

Greg Renick is a psychology major, with a minor in legal studies; Candace Scott is a broadcast journalism major with a minor in communications, both in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. Greg is from Little Rock and Candace is from Russellville.

Both students are long-time fans of the show. Greg describes himself as a “big fan,” and remembers watching Wheel as a child with his grandmother. Candace said she grew up watching evening news shows; Wheel of Fortune always came on next and she often found herself playing along with her family or friends.

Greg and Candace had both registered to be on earlier shows. He applied on line several different times over the past few years. She tried to get on once, four years ago. Both were completely surprised when they were contacted in December and invited to come to New Orleans for tryouts.

That’s right, there are tryouts for Wheel of Fortune.

Greg said his audition lasted about three hours, and it included a written test, simulated game play using a miniature cardboard wheel, and “a ton of clapping and smiling.”

“There were about five rounds of tryouts, each consisting of 50 -plus students,” Candace said. “The try out process was a combination of written and oral tests where we solved puzzles. They took our headshot and we had about five minutes to say something about ourselves. “

Greg: “They told us we’d hear in about two weeks. When two weeks came and went, I assumed I didn’t make it on the show. Two months later I got a call.”

Candace: “I didn't hear back from them that I had been selected until the week before Spring Break. I was very surprised to say the least.”

The College Week shows – all five of them – were taped on Saturday, April 16 at the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.

“They don’t pay your way to get down there, or to put you up in a hotel, but they do guarantee that you’ll leave with no less than $1,000,” Greg explained.

Greg, Candace and the other 13 contestants had to arrive early to fill out paperwork and then put in a 14 hour day before they were finished.

Candace: “We got to see the set and practice spinning – which is really hard by the way.”

Greg: “I think they said the entire wheel weighs more than 2000 pounds, you really have to push.”

Candace: “My mom and dad joked that the first time I spun they were concerned it wasn't going to make it around very far.”

The Convention Center held an audience that Greg estimated at about a thousand people, much bigger than he expected. The contestants had plenty of time to relax – or get nervous – try to practice and get to know each other before the taping began.

“All the other contestants were so nice and fun. It was easy to be genuinely excited for them when they would win or solve a puzzle,” Candace said. Because the contestants who weren’t on the set for the show were part of the audience themselves.

“Vanna White came by early and said hi to everyone,” Greg said. “But you don’t meet Pat Sajak until you’re actually taping the show.”

Greg was on the fourth show of the day and was very impressed with the game show host.

“Pat Sajak is one of the funniest people I’ve ever seen, very quick and witty and very nice.” He even managed to get Greg to call the Hogs, although it didn’t take too much persuading.

“I wanted to make the Arkansas fans proud,” Greg said.

Candace was in the final show of the day, which started taping at about 9 p.m. By that time she says she wasn’t nervous, just ready to play.

“Pat and Vanna were exactly like they are on T.V. but maybe even a little better,” she said. But she added that actually being on the show was much different than she expected.

“It's so different from what it looks like on television. There are boards everywhere saying how much money you have, what letters have and haven't been called, the puzzle category -- and people are constantly reminding you to smile, be energetic and loud. So solving the puzzle was the least of my worries.”

Greg and Candace wouldn’t give away how they did on the show, although Greg was willing to give a hint: “I left with more money than I went down with.”

Candace just says, “I am so happy I can say that my last semester of college I went to be on Wheel of Fortune's College Week and ended up having such a fun and unique experience.”

Greg agrees: “It was honestly a once in a lifetime experience. I had so much fun.”

In Northwest Arkansas Wheel of Fortune airs on the local CBS affiliate, KFSM, at 6:30 p.m.