Stewart finds fun in 'Big Pain'

Monday, June 5, 2006

The odds certainly didn't seem to be in favor of Rachel Stewart when her mother, Amy Stewart entered her into the "Excedrin Biggest Pain of the Week" sweepstakes contest to win $5,000.

However, contest officials picked the Greencastle resident's name from among the other 75,000 contestants for the cash prize and a three-day, two-night trip to Los Angeles which included being in the live studio audience for the final taping of "The Apprentice" at the Orpheum Theater.

Amy Stewart knew winning is always a possibility though.

"My mom does this a lot. It is kind of her hobby," Rachel Stewart said. "A couple of years ago she won $1,000 from Home Depot. She has won all kinds of stuff like computers and DVDs."

The winning entry with Rachel Stewart's name on it was pulled from one of 5,000 mail-in entries, rather than one of the more than 65,000 email entries.

The $5,000, or what is left of it after taxes, will go toward paying off student loans, 21-year-old Rachel Stewart said.

However, for now, she is enjoying the trip which she is taking with her guest of honor, her father, Greg Stewart.

"If I had taken one of my friends, we might have been lost. My dad is good with directions," she said.

Luckily, she was able to quickly take off from her work as a manager at a local retail shop. She was informed of her win on Tuesday and had to be ready to leave Sunday morning.

While in L.A., the Stewarts will visit local landmarks such as the Santa Monica Pier and Beverly Hills, in addition to taking a limousine to the taping of "The Apprentice." They will return to Indiana Tuesday.

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