By ALEXANDRA NEWMAN

Chesterton resident Valerie Brown, a senior at Valparaiso University, learned Monday she will be a contestant on the popular Wheel-of-Fortune TV show.

She is hoping it will be for College Week in Chicago at Navy Pier.

“I always loved the show and I applied online during the summer to be a contestant,” she said. “I got a call to audition during Christmas break in Chicago.”

Valerie said her dad drove her to the hotel on Lake Shore Drive for the audition. Fifty contestants from schools in the Midwest were in the room set-up for the contestants only.

“We had assigned seats,” she continued. Most were from bigger schools - IU, PU, Iowa, Illinois University, Michigan…There were two others from VU, but they did not make the cut.

“We had to be ready to be called on, had to be peppy and had to concentrate on solving the puzzles.”

Those who solved the puzzles each got a prize. The contestants also had to take a five-minute timed writing test that was like hang-man, where some of the letters were given.

“There were three Valeries there. So each time the name was called, I first thought it was me, but, I was the last person they called that got to stay for the final round.

“We then had personal auditions in groups of four. We had to show how we would spin a wheel and then solved the puzzles like they do on TV.”

Then the contestants had to introduce themselves. That part of the audition was easy for Valerie. At Chesterton High School she was on the Speech and Debate Team. Also, at VU, she is majoring in marketing and public relations. And, this gal with a bubbly personality also is an Ambassador at VU. She is employed by the Admissions Office to give campus tours to prospective students and parents. She has continued her involvement with Women’s Soccer by being on the reserve team at VU.

Even though she felt comfortable introducing herself, she said she was nervous about solving the puzzles.

“There is no pressure at home. When you are there, the judges are looking at you. You have to hold yourself well, while solving the puzzles. There were five judges sitting right up front and taking notes,” she said.

Her dad, Bob Brown, had to sit outside the audition room with other parents, during the audition. But he said he could hear the cheering and noise.

“He was really excited when I came out and told him I had been selected,” she continued.

Valerie’s parents, Bob and Diane Brown will accompany her when she is on the show.

If she gets to be on the College Week Show at Navy Pier, she will audition March 8. Other auditions in Chicago are March 7 and 9.

Valerie said she is assured of being on the show, but is now waiting to see which show she will be on. The College Week will air the last week of April.

“The next step is a phone call to let me know when,” she said, adding that although she is hoping it will be the Chicago venue, there is a remote possibility that she might have to fly to Los Angeles for a different show.

Meanwhile, she has been quite a celebrity on campus. Friends have been cheering her on ever since the word got out. She said the Business School is planning to have a premier so everyone can watch the program in an auditorium.

Posted 2/7/2008