The Putnam Standard
Community News
November 2-3, 2012 – Page 13
Former Miss W.Va. wins big on Wheel of Fortune By Justin Waybright justin@thecabellstandard.com
ONA – Family and friends sat eagerly by the television at 7p.m., Monday, Oct. 22 to watch a childhood dream become reality for their own Jessi Pierson. Excitement filled the living room as Wheel of Fortune began its airing. “Here it is!” Pierson’s fiancé Ben Jurevicius said. Host Pat Sajak and model Vanna White appeared on the family’s TV set. Sajak introduced the nervous, but happy Salt Rock Elementary School Teacher, Pierson to the nation on the show’s “Teachers Week” episode. Her family’s eyes were glued to the television set as she spoke about them, her students and fiancé on national television. During the 30-minute show, the first-grade teacher gradually began solving puzzles, and her prize winnings grew. By the end of the show, she had won $14,500 and a trip to Antigua. “We’re excited because the money we won can be used for our wedding,” Pierson said. “We will have our honeymoon with the trip to Antigua that we won.” The former Miss WV recalled the weeks leading up to her Wheel of Fortune performance. She said it began with an audition in Charleston. “It was intense,” she said. “The judges kept making cuts, cuts and cuts.” After the rigorous 6-audition set, Pierson was told, that if she was chosen to come on the show, she would receive a letter in the mail in two weeks. She and her family waited patiently while the two weeks passed. But after almost three weeks something amazing happened: a letter arrived in the mail that changed her life. She opened it and learned she had made it on Wheel of fortune. “I was with my mom, sister and nephew,” she said. “I was so excited! I broke a board on my
(Above) Jessi Pierson’s family gathers around their TV to watch her perform on Wheel of Fortune Monday, Oct. 22. The first-grade teacher at Salt Elementary won $14,500 and a trip to Antigua. (Right) Pierson’s first-grade students enjoy watching their teacher on TV. The group watched the episode during a celebration at Salt Rock Elementary Wednesday (October 24th) afternoon. Photos by Justin Waybright.
porch from jumping up and down.” Pierson’s grandmother Wanda King recalled that day, “She told me that she had some good news and some bad news. She said ‘the bad news was that she had broken a board on the porch, but the good news was that we were going to California to be on Wheel of fortune.’” Pierson’s mother, Kristi, was not shocked to learn her daughter had made it. “It wasn’t a surprise in any way,” she said. “What she sets her mind to, she accomplishes.” Kristi Pierson said every one of her daughter’s childhood goals have been achieved. From becoming a school teacher, to winning the Miss West Virginia title, she succeeds, her mother said. Two of these childhood goals have already been achieved, and Wheel of Fortune was no different for Pierson. This classic television show drew her attention at a young age. “I watched it as soon as I could read,” she said. “My Nana [King] would say ‘you got to come over and watch Jessi solve puzzles.’” “She was always good at it,
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“King said. The television show has brought memories to Pierson and her grandmother during the past 20 years. “We both shared a love for that show, “ King said. Pierson’s mother nodded her head, “You all still do!” Amid the publicity and national exposure of beauty pageants and TV shows, Pierson remains humble, her fiancé said. “I met her before she even won Miss WV,” he explained. “She is a really good person; that’s what means the most to me.” On Wednesday, October 24th, Pierson showed her Wheel of Fortune performance to her proud group of first graders. The
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excited students cheered the teacher on while they watched her win on the big screen. Now that Pierson’s dream of
playing on Wheel of Fortune is accomplished, she can plan another one: to have a wedding next fall.