For one Boston University student, 15 minutes of fame passed Monday in a whirl ‘- literally.

College of Communication junior Kaelin Merrihew appeared on Wheel of Fortune College Week Monday night, walking away with $12,200 and a Mexican Riviera Cruise after the final bonus round.

Surrounded by friends, Merrihew watched the episode at the Cafeteria Boston restaurant on Newbury Street.

‘It was like a dream come true,’ Merrihew said. ‘The whole experience was very surreal and went by in a flash.’

As a long-time Wheel of Fortune fan, Merrihew said she loved to see Vanna White’s dress on each episode, which aired during family dinners. In order to appear on the show, Merrihew had to apply well in advance.

‘I applied online in my freshman or sophomore year because I fit the ‘College Students in New England’ criteria,’ Merrihew said. ‘In July, I received an email to audition.’

During auditions, the contestants were tested on their enthusiasm and ability to solve puzzles, she said.

‘One challenge was solving as many puzzles as you can in five minutes. It was really nerve-wracking,’ she said. ‘I can solve puzzles, but I was nervous about doing it on stage.’

Merrihew said she did not make it past the third round, but a month later she received a call.

‘I received a call in August telling me that I was the best they found from BU and that I was selected to be on the show,’ Merrihew. ‘I was so excited and called my mom, who was just flipping out at the news.’

COM junior Rosie Mansfield said Merrihew spread the news once the semester began.

‘I was in class with Kaelin when she announced her selection on the show as her fun fact on the first day of the semester,’ she said.

Merrihew, her sister Christine and five friends went to the Boston Convention Center on Sept. 4 for the recording. BU’s Barnes & Noble sponsored Merrihew and gave her the sweatshirt she wore on the show.

‘I was very nervous and had butterflies in my stomach but it was very exciting at the same time,’ she said. ‘Once I saw my sister and my friends, I felt better. Even the BU Band and dance team were there.’

Merrihew competed against Yale University sophomore Marty Keil and University of Rhode Island senior Kevin McMurray.

‘ ‘I was really impressed at how composed Kaelin was on the show,’ Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences junior Shilpa Reddy said. ‘The other contestants were very nervous.’

School of Management junior Maggie Boyle said it was interesting to see how the competitors matched up to Merrihew.

‘The Yale student had a laundry list of things about himself,’ she said. ‘He kept listing the clubs he was president of and what he had accomplished.’

Merrihew said it was entertaining to compete against the two boys.

‘I think the guys loved getting airbrushed when our makeup was done,’ she said. ‘That was one of my favorite parts.’

COM junior Catalina Dussan, Merrihew’s friend, said she was not surprised that Merrihew appeared on Wheel of Fortune.

‘Out of all of my friends, she would be the one to do this,’ she said. ‘She is so outrageous.’