Alpharetta student hits jackpot on 'Wheel of Fortune'

Can you solve this puzzle?

_H_ _ L _F F _ _ T _ N _ _ _ N N _ _.

It's what Adam Kleg is: a "Wheel Of Fortune" winner.

The Kennesaw State University biochemistry major won $61,475 in cash and prizes in his appearance last week, including a BMW 128i convertible worth $40,525 and a trip to Hawaii.

Kleg, 22, of Alpharetta turned phrases such as "Golden Opportunity," "Treasure Island" and "Native of Chicago," while not hitting "bankrupt" or "lose a turn."

"It's a combination of luck and skill," he said.

A big puzzle fan who plays canasta online and does Sudoku, Kleg applied to spin the wheel nearly three years ago.

He forgot about it until he was invited to audition last November in Buckhead.

Contestants were judged on personality, how they did in testing and "how lively we were," Kleg said.

A couple of months later, the show contacted Kleg to spin the wheel. He had to decline because of a chemistry lab, exams and presentations.

"I was like, 'Uh-oh, they're never going to call me back,' " Kleg said. "When they contacted me in April, I had the same situation, but I told my teachers, 'Look, I'm going. You can move my stuff for me, and we'll figure it out later.' "

He had a Vanna White moment when the letter-turner wished the contestants good luck.

"None of us recognized her at first," Kleg said. "She was in street clothes, pajama pants, T-shirt and wet hair instead of being made up."

Likewise, the contestant coordinator didn't recognize Kleg.

"When I auditioned," he said, "I had a mohawk and a beard. I thought, 'Do I keep it or get rid of it? Which is more appropriate?' "

He finally decided, "It's me, and it's who I am, so they can take it or leave it."

However, by the time Kleg appeared on the show, he was clean-shaven. He was interviewing for physician's assistant schools.