“MILLIONAIRE” MOMENT FOR ’95 LYCO GRAD

Robert Martin ’95 recently had a “Millionaire” moment—or two of them, at least. Martin appeared as a contestant on the popular Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? game show for two days on May 3 and 4.

Martin said he had been trying to get on the show for three years. He took the test in New York in September, passed it, and received a postcard in October informing him that he was selected to be in the contestant pool. He got a call on December 6 to be in New York the next day for taping.

“I flipped out,” says Martin. “I didn’t believe it at first. Even if you’re selected to be on the show that day, there’s no guarantee you’re getting out of the green room.” That all depends on how the other participants are faring on the show. As one contestant goes off, another one comes on.

“I was nervous until I got into the $1,000 plateau because I didn’t want to be one of those people who ended up on YouTube as the biggest idiots who go out of Millionaire on the first question,” says Martin. 

While he was in the “Millionaire” hot seat, he won a cool $16,000. Martin says he plans to use his winnings toward a down payment on a new house. The hardest part was not revealing how well he did until after the show’s airdates.

“You have to sign a letter of confidentiality,” says Martin. “For about six months I couldn’t tell anyone how much I won or give them any details about the show. If they [the show’s producers] find out you gave it away, you don’t get your money. You don’t get your money until after the show airs.”

Hosted by Meredith Vieira, “Millionaire” currently is in its fifth season. “It was one of the best experiences of my life,” says Martin. “I got to spend a lot of quality time with Meredith Vieira. She’s a great host.”

Martin is currently in his fourth year as Director of Development at the Mental Health Association of New Jersey. He resides in Morris County, New Jersey. While at Lycoming, Martin was president of the student senate and played on the basketball team.