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Local youth wins Jeep on TV show
By Shawn Strannigan

Slater Dixon and his prize ride.

Slater Dixon has been a fan of the television game show "The Price is Right" since his childhood.

Last fall, the 19-year-old Dixon became a contestant on the program -- and walked away with the grand prize: a new Jeep Grand Cherokee.

"I go to Chapman University in Orange County," Dixon said. "Last fall, a group of 25 of my friends -- known as the 'Mathletes,' went to Burbank Studios to watch The Price Is Right. Everyone in the audience has the chance to be a contestant and everyone was interviewed by the producer."

Dixon said the producer spent a few minutes with each person from the audience, asking the questions: "Where are you from?" and, "Tell me something about yourself."

When Dixon's turn to be interviewed arrived, he made a concerted effort to be remembered by the producer. Once the show started, he was called down as the third contestant.

"I rushed down to Contestant Row," Dixon said. "When the first item came up for us to bid, I didn't get it. The second item was a Broyhill dinette set with four chairs. I guessed it was $1,500 and the actual price was $1,550, so I won."

Elated, Dixon ran over and shook Bob Barker's hand.

"Do you want to win a new car?" Barker asked.

Dixon then got to play the Price Matching game.

"I had four chances to guess the right price for the items," said Dixon. "I won twice, and not only did I win a carbon monoxide detector and a toaster, I won the car."

There were six prices Dixon could choose for the car. He had two chances, but nailed it on the first try.

"I was freaking out," said Dixon. "I wasn't looking, afraid I hadn't won. Then Bob asked who would be the first person I'd call if I won."

Dixon replied that he'd call his mom.

"Well, then call your mom!" Barker announced.

To celebrate the moment, Dixon ran over and kissed Barker on the cheek.

Dixon then called his mother (Carol Dixon, a Sisters High School teacher) and the rest of the family rejoiced with him.

"We watched the show every day in the summer when we were kids," said Sydney Dixon, Slater's older sister. "We'd bid on the items and compete for the prizes."

The practice evidently paid off.

Dixon will drive to Hollywood this week.

He is working toward a Bachelor of Fine Arts in film and television.

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