Sweatshirt woes nearly foil studentâs
win on game show 

By Reem Al-Omari
The Metropolitan

Not having a Metro State sweatshirt almost cost Chanpheng Panpradith a trip to Europe and $11,200.

The Metro sophomoreâs name was picked out of a bucket a day before The Wheel of Fortune was taped Oct. 27 in Denver. Panpradith, 20, replaced one of the two players that couldnât to make it into town because of a blizzard on the night of the taping.

She won with ãperfumeä in the bonus round. The show aired Nov. 19 on KMGH-Channel 7.
Though she had plenty of support, Panpradith didnât have a college sweatshirt. All contestants were required to wear a T-shirt or sweatshirt with their schoolâs name.

Since it was the weekend and a blizzard was dumping snow on Denver, everywhere Panpradith went to purchase a Metro sweatshirt, including the Auraria Book Center, was closed.

ãI was going crazy.ä she said.

She called everyone she knew to see if they had a Metro sweatshirt she could borrow ÷ to no avail.
Panpradith ended up sewing an ãMä she cut from another a T-shirt onto a sweatshirt that she bought from a drug store. Now she calls it her ãgood luck sweatshirt.ä

Panpradithâs opponents included students from University of Northern Colorado, Colorado State University, Regis, CU-Boulder, Colorado College, University of New Mexico and the University of Nebraska.

Her trip to Europe includes destinations to 13 countries, including Spain, France, Italy and Greece. The 30-day trip is valued at $16,112 and will cover hotel arrangements, food and transportation for four people.

Panpradith said she hopes she can take the trip in July and plans to take her boyfriend, best friend and her best friendâs boyfriend.  Panpradith said she will use the cash she won to pay taxes and other bills.

ãIâm doing the responsible thing,ä she said.