Who Is Greg Lichtenstein '12?

Congratulations to Greg Lichtenstein ’12, who made it to the semifinals in the Jeopardy! 2009 College Championship this past May. Lichtenstein was the first-ever Vassar student to compete in the championship, and the only freshman to make it to this year’s semifinals. He led the pack up until the Final Jeopardy! round, where he came in second to a senior from the University of Missouri — but nonetheless, walked away with $10,000.

Lichtenstein, who spent his spring break in California with his family while filming Jeopardy!, was unable to reveal the outcome of his exploits to any friends in the interim. “Surprisingly,” he says, “it was not too difficult keeping it a secret. It was almost like a little game.” The suspense certainly built up on campus, where students gathered eagerly at screening events to cheer on their classmate. Lichtenstein, who was also in attendance, notes that although the experience of watching himself on TV was “weird,” he was “very happy to see so many people come to watch with me and support me.”

— Baize Buzan '10

Photo credit: Courtesy of Jeopardy! Productions, Inc.
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