Converse Alumna Wins on 'Jeopardy!'
A Richard the Red Devil pinned to her waistband for good luck, Converse College graduate Katie Proctor won another episode of “Jeopardy!” Thursday night, blowing by the competition and winning $24,800 for a two-day total of $52,201.
Proctor made her debut on the show Wednesday night, beating the seven-day champion and winning $26,401.
“The red and purple were sort of intentional for Converse College”
Proctor, a 1997 graduate of Converse who lives in Hendersonville, N.C., went into the final question Thursday with $32,400, well ahead of her two opponents in a contest that was never close. She had the wrong answer to “This performer is the only person to win Oscars for acting and songwriting.” The answer is Barbra Streisand. Proctor wagered $7,600.
Proctor’s family went to Mezzaluna’s on Main Street to watch the show Thursday night instead of staying at home. A number of people came up to Proctor during the show after recognizing her.
“We had a great time,” she said. “The support and congratulations have been unbelievable.”
Thursday’s episode was taped the same day in August as Wednesday’s show. There was a lunch break between the two tapings, allowing Proctor time to regroup. After the break, Proctor was relaxed and refreshed for the taping of the Thursday night show. Her nerves gone, she had the timing of working the buzzer down and was ready to go.
“A lot of it was about timing. I managed to get on a roll,” Proctor said. She only had 15 minutes between that win and the taping for tonight’s show, however, leaving her no time to savor the victory. After Thursday’s show, Proctor said she knows her friends are expecting her to do well Friday, but she can’t give anything away.
She majored in biology, English and religion at Converse College and had a lot of friends in theater and the arts, which has helped her prepare for the quiz show. Her wardrobe for the two tapings was also symbolic of her college days.
“The red and purple were sort of intentional for Converse College,” she said with a laugh.
This article was published by the Spartanburg Herald-Journal on October 14, 2011