Friday, May 09, 2008

Student, former AMSC employee fulfills her lifetime Jeopardy dream

Gabrielle McMahan always wanted to be a contestant on the Emmy-winning quiz show, Jeopardy!

On Monday, McMahan, along with millions of viewers across America, watched that dream come true.

The Florida A&M business student, not only competed in the tournament which aired Monday, but is on her way to semi-finals which air Monday.

During Monday’s broadcast, McMahan was surrounded by family members, friends and colleagues at Lucky’s Sports Theatre and Grille in Springfield for a Jeopardy! party in her honor. Army Management Staff College colleagues also showed up to support McMahan, a former student employee at AMSC.

McMahan joined 14 other students in the tournament, which taped in April. The students were selected from thousands who auditioned nationwide.

Although McMahan already knew the results, the crowd of supporters at the restaurant watched in suspense as the championship unfolded.
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McMahan lead the championship before the final question, asking who said, “I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude “

Give up?

“Who is Thoreau,” McMahan wrote.

The other two contestants also answered correctly. However, McMahan was leading the championship with $9,000, so her decision to wage $1,000 led to her victory on the show. She now competes in the semi-finals against eight other winners of the first week of the college tournament, along with the next four highest money earners.

Although calm and collected at the Jeopardy! party, McMahan described competing in the tournament as “one giant adrenaline rush.”

McMahan’s parents, Arthur and Gayle, were beaming with pride toward their daughter’s success on the show.

Arthur McMahan, AMSC director of educational services, said the family has quizzed each other with Jeopardy! questions since Gabrielle was 6 years old.

“Now, I can’t beat her,” Arthur said of his Jeopardy! wiz.

The McMahans will not reveal the final results, but plan to host another Jeopardy! party so all can see the competition unfold at the same time.