GV student to appear on Price is Right

Courtesy Photo / Gina Maniaci
Grand Valley Student Gina Maniaci will appear on the game show The Price Is Right

Courtesy Photo / Gina Maniaci Grand Valley Student Gina Maniaci will appear on the game show The Price Is Right

Samantha Arnold

Gina Maniaci, come on down.

Maniaci, a freshman, represented Grand Valley State University on an episode of the game show to air at 11 a.m. Thursday on CBS.

She stood on stage as a contestant on the game show during the filming on March 5.

“I don’t really remember exactly what I said because it was all kind of a blur, but I remember saying something about Grand Valley, and then I think I said, ‘Go Lakers’ at the end,” Maniaci said.

Beth Donovan, sophomore and friend of Maniaci, also attended the game show.

“On the show, I wore a GVSU t-shirt to show support for our school,” Donovan said. “It was an amazing experience and so fun. I would do it again in an instant.”

Maniaci went to Los Angeles to visit her sister for the first time after she and her husband were stationed there by the military.

The first day, Maniaci and Donovan went to watch a taping of the Price is Right. The two GVSU students received front row seats, and a producer chose Maniaci to be a contestant on the show. The producer selected her by interview from everyone in line for the show.

Maniaci said she had opportunity to spin the wheel and talk to Drew Carey.

“I can’t believe I hugged (him), like, six times,” Maniaci said. “It was a very beneficial experience, and it is still so unreal to me.”

Maniaci cannot disclose any information regarding what – or if – she won anything on the show. But she said she was happy with the results.

[email protected]