Newtown High School 2015 graduate Alec Hersh is set to have his appearance on ABC's Who Wants To Be A Millionaire air this Thursday, October 1.

Alec is now a freshman at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Penn.

He auditioned for the chance to be on the show last spring, and filmed his participation with the game show on Friday, July 31. He and his friends, Alec said, and family have been waiting to watch the episode ever since.

“I’ve been patient. It’s my friends and family who aren’t as patient,” Alec said.

While Alec cannot share details about the episode before it airs, he shared his excitement on Monday, September 28, about taking advantage of the opportunity to be part of the show when he could.

Last spring, Alec said he happened to be in the NHS main office when secretary Debi Modzelewski received and read out loud a memo about the chance for high school students to audition for the show that day in Stamford.

Alec said he jumped in his car and drove to Stamford on the whim. The fact that he showed up to the studio, the Connecticut Film Center in Stamford, without his parents, he said, impressed a number of producers working on the show.

Alec's show is being aired as part of the show's themed Off to College Week.

After taking the prelimary quiz for his audition, Alec said he later completed an interview and a screen test. Roughly a month later he recieved notification that he would be taping for the show on July 31.

Waiting for his screen time, Alec said, was both nerve wracking and "very exciting."

“It was thrilling. It really was," Alec said.

But once he was on stage, Alec said he was surprising comfortable. Alec said he is familiar with the feeling of "all the lights," as he acts.

While Alec has yet to declare a major, he said his interests— psychology, history, and theater— helped him answer all of the trivia questions he faced.

Alec said the biggest thing he learned from his experience with the show is to always "take advantage of opportunities."

Check local listings for the viewing time for the show.