Spring 2001

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Have you ever wondered how contestants get chosen for TV game shows like Wheel of Fortune? So did Craig Pohlman (‘00, CS), so he decided to find out. The result was a nine-month adventure that challenged his persistence, problem-solving skills and ability to make quick decisions.

Pohlman reached his goal. He was one of three contestants on the April 11 show which was broadcast in 207 markets representing 99.7 percent of the United States population.

During his appearance, Pohlman had a brief opportunity to plug his alma mater when answering one of hosts Pat Sajak's questions. Pohlman, a resident of Tempe, Arizona, told of his senior computer science project team which designed a web-based process to order a soft drink from a machine dispenser.

Pohlman's quest to appear on the show began nine-months before the segment was broadcast. He had to survive two interviews and tryouts, and was tested on puzzle-solving skills. The April 11 show was taped at Sony Picture Studios in Culver City, Calif., two months before it was broadcast.

His answer of Hudson Bay to one of the puzzles helped him win $2,250.

Among his comments about the national TV appearance, Pohlman says, "The time on the show moves faster than you can imagine. The fast pace of the show made difficult to think as fast as you can just watching the show at home," said Pohlman, who is a software engineer for Lockheed Martin.