Dal student wins big on game show

Biology student Stephanie Bartlett was called on stage from the audience during The Price is Right .

"Stephanie Bartlett, come on down!"

Actually, the 19-year-old Dal Biology major never really heard those famous words from "The Price is Right" announcer Rich Fields. The CBS TV studio was far too noisy for her to hear a thing, but she saw her name flashed on a cue card.

"Before I knew what was happening, everyone was screaming and cheering and I saw myself on TV," she said. "Everyone usually gets up and hugs their friends and makes a big deal of it but I just saw my name and ran straight down there. I was in shock. I didn't know what to do. I just knew I had to get next to Bob (Barker)."

During a Reading Week break in California with a friend, Stephanie got free tickets to a taping of TV's longest-running game show. Out of 300 in the studio audience, hers was one of four names called to compete.

After she saw her name flashed, Stephanie ran to the front of the studio where she stood with three other contestants. Before she could catch her breath, a Honda motor scooter dropped down from the ceiling in front of her. Veteran game show host Bob Barker asked all four contestants to guess at its price. The closest estimate to the actual price would win it. The other three guessed amounts close to $1000 USD; Stephanie guessed $2100. The real price was $2264. Right away, she won. Still somewhat overwhelmed by the experience, she guessed closest to the value of the next prize, a four-person catamaran worth $4195 USD. She won again.

Next, Stephanie was whisked offstage to sign "all kinds of forms and contracts" so that her boat and scooter could be shipped to her. (American law requires that game show contestants pay 37 per cent tax on all winnings.)

Stephanie lost the next round but left happy. After all, she won prizes and instant fame in her hometown of Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland and Labrador.ÊÊÊ

Her show aired on March 11 so her winnings will be shipped soon. Once duty and shipping costs are paid, she plans to sell the goods and divide the spoils with her friend, Saint Mary's student Jessica Allen. "If either of us won, it was our plan to split it. It will help us pay tuition," says Stephanie.ÊÊÊ

Jessica came to Dalhousie to study last year "... because I want to get into Dentistry and because I have always wanted to come to Dal since I was a little girl. I didn't really want to go anywhere else."

Her studies began last year with the Dalhousie Integrated Science Program (DISP) which she calls "an excellent program. For someone starting university in a new city, it's great because you learn a lot and the program helps you meet a lot of new people."

The two spent the rest of their week off having fun -- taking trips to Disneyland, shopping and exploring Orange County. But for Stephanie, nothing could top her excellent game show adventure.

As she says, "I tend to be a lucky person. I've won contests and other small prizes, but never anything this big."