Millionaire Maker Second Chance contestants are, from left, Zef S. of Shelby Township, Sarah T. of Grosse Ile Township, Douglas Niemi of Ishpeming, Jim F. of Flint and Carlo C. of Midland. (Courtesy photo)

ISHPEMING — An Isgpeming man made the trek across the Mackinac Bridge to Detroit recently to participate in the Michigan Lottery’s Millionaire Maker Second Chance giveaway live event!

Douglas Niemi, of Ishpeming, was one of five finalists who participated in a live event at Little Caesars Arena during the Detroit Pistons game on April 8.

“I’m lucky I made it to Detroit because the bridge shutdown just after I crossed over,” said Niemi. “My seven-hour trip was quite the ride, but I’m here and ready to have some fun!”

Although he didn’t win the $1 million grand prize, he did head back home to the U.P. with a runner-up prize of $5,000.

Sarah Tawwater, of Grosse Ile, won the $1 million grand prize during the event.

During the live event, each contestant wore a colored t-shirt which corresponded with a color on the prize wheel. The color that the wheel landed on determined the winner of the $1 million grand prize. Each runner-up received a $5,000 prize.

Players earned entries into the Millionaire Maker Second Chance Giveaway by scanning their non-winning Millionaire Maker instant game tickets on the Michigan Lottery mobile app ticket scanner. The finalist drawing took place on March 31, in which the 10 contestants were chosen at random to participate in the giveaway.