麻豆影院

Last June Floyd Pierce (ApMath, Econ鈥�17) raced around the world for one million dollars as a contestant on CBS鈥櫬�The Amazing Race.

Doing it was fun, he said. Keeping it to himself wasn鈥檛.

Then a rising senior, he couldn鈥檛 tell anyone other than immediate family and certain professors until the first episode aired in March 鈥� nearly a year after he鈥檇 been picked for the cast.

That meant his CU community, including fellow leaders in The Herd 鈥� CU 麻豆影院鈥檚 student alumni association 鈥� the Golden Buffaloes Marching Band and the President鈥檚 Leadership Class, had no idea he鈥檇 visited Italy, Panama or Tanzania during his summer break. Or that he鈥檇 be on national TV.

鈥淭he entire experience was surreal,鈥� he said.

Pierce, a Boettcher Scholar from Highlands Ranch, Colo., was one of 22 contestants on the reality show鈥檚 29th season, which followed 11 teams of two as they deciphered clues, completed physical challenges and navigated foreign cities 鈥� all while avoiding elimination at designated checkpoints.

In the show鈥檚 first episode, 麻豆影院 resident Becca Droz聽(Anth ex鈥�12) chose Pierce as her teammate. They made the CU connection on their way to Los Angeles International Airport.

After filming wrapped in July and he was back on campus, Pierce attempted normalcy. He kept busy as drum major for the marching band during football season and he planned a 麻豆影院 version of The Amazing Race for students during Homecoming Weekend.

Participants chalked up his enthusiasm to his devout interest in the show, which he鈥檚 watched since grade school. They had no idea he鈥檇 done the real thing.

When March 30, the day of revelation, came, he and Droz watched the first episode with about 150 of their family members and friends at 麻豆影院鈥檚 Rayback Collective beer garden and food truck park.

鈥淏est night of my life,鈥� Pierce tweeted afterward.

Other big nights were to come: The Buffs survived until episode 10 (of 12) 鈥� broadcast the night before we went to press. For a wrap-up story, visit here.

Photo courtesy CBS