Women's Studies Major Andy Kravis Wins on the Television Game Show Wheel of Fortune

The Michigan Women's Studies Department received national publicity in April when Women’s Studies and English major Andy Kravis won over $40,000 on the television game show Wheel of Fortune during College Week.  Andy is interviewed by Women's Studies Program Coordinator Donna Ainsworth about his experience.

Donna Ainsworth: Why did you decide to audition for Wheel of Fortune?

Andy Kravis: I've watched the show since I was little.  I always thought I could be good
at it, so I applied online to audition.

DA: What was the audition experience like?

AK: It was high-energy and fast-paced - I had a lot of fun.  The coordinators play a quick mock game with everyone at the audition (about 100 people per group), then you take a paper test to see how quickly you can solve puzzles, and if you pass the test you play a smaller mock game.  I met a lot of cool people there too, from a guy from Iowa who was going into hotel and restaurant management, to a girl from Valparaiso who had just gotten engaged.

DA: What was interesting about being on the show?

AK: I think the most fascinating thing was being behind the scenes the whole time.  Watching the show on TV, the game looks incredibly smooth and simple, but that end-product takes a surprising amount of hard work from a lot of talented and interesting people.

DA: What kinds of skills help participants to be successful on the show, besides the obvious puzzle-solving/wordsmithing skills? 

AK: Probably confidence, a good attitude, a solid understanding of the game, and luck.  Successful is a relative term, too; my only real goals were to have fun and not to get greedy.  Looking back now, I can honestly say there weren't any decisions I regret making during the course of the game, which in turn makes the whole experience much more fun.

DA: Did you hear from many people who saw you on television?

AK: Yes, mostly relatives (some of whom I didn't know existed until they called to congratulate me).  Other than that, everyone I know has been very cool about it, for which I'm very grateful.

DA: What did you win, and what do you plan to do with the money?

AK: I won $43,550, which I'm definitely going to put toward further education, and a trip to the Bahamas.

DA: Tell us about your academic interests.

AK: My focus in Women's Studies is LGBTQ Studies, with a particular emphasis on the historical, cultural, and sociological aspects of gender and sexuality.  In English, I enjoy studying gender and sexuality in literature, queer theory, and aspects of the language itself (linguistics, rhetoric, semantics).