Tyler Allard '07.
Who is one of the recent contestants on "Teen Jeopardy" and a newly accepted freshman to the University?
Allard, 17, took second place on the award winning game show, which aired last week. Jeopardy, known as "the SAT of television game shows," famous for its unique answer and question format, "think" theme song and host Alex Trebek's moustache, awarded Allard second place and $28,400.
It all started last January when Allard was visiting his sister Hilary '02, who was "hooked" on online Jeopardy.
"My whole family is really into Jeopardy," he said.
While playing along in his sister's dorm room, Allard — who has watched the show all his life, often beating his parents and grandparents from his own living room — noticed a teen tournament advertised. He then had the chance to take his buzzer skills to prime time.
All it took was one simple click, Allard explained. He registered his name on the Jeopardy website and received a call asking him to an April audition in New York.
"I was picked randomly to try out," he said.
Before they knew it, Allard and his family were on a plane from their home in Washington, D.C. to New York for tests, interviews and mock games of Jeopardy.
A few months later, a Fed-Ex letter arrived informing Allard of his semifinalist status. He then had to compete against contestants from other states at the semifinals and finals in Los Angeles.
The day before he left for L.A., Allard received a thumbs up from the University — where he applied Early Decision.
"Friday I got my acceptance letter and Saturday I was in Los Angeles," he said. "December was a good month."
Allard, a self-proclaimed history buff, nailed many of the questions about pop culture and famous Americans.
"My teachers all thought it was really cool. After I had filmed it, they had me tell the whole class how the experience was," he said.
For Allard, the game wasn't nerve-wracking at all, and gave him a chance to encounter participants from all over the country.
"I didn't really prepare for it too much. I've watched Jeopardy my whole life. You never know what the questions are going to be," he said.
Though he didn't make any lifelong chums, Allard said the laid-back atmosphere helped put him at ease and perform his best.
And although Allard came extremely close to Jeopardy victory, he said he has no plans to try again for the top spot.
"I think that ship has sailed," he said. "I guess my teen tournament would be my crowning highlight."
With the gaming experience behind him, Allard looks forward to the next four years.
"My sister's boyfriend said I should put the money towards sprucing up my dorm room, making it the party central."
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