W&M alumni represent Tribe with pride on 'Jeopardy!'

Head of the class Patrick Dillon '04 was one of just 15 teachers nationwide selected to participate in the 2013 Jeopardy! Teachers Tournament.

Class photo Dillon and Bloedorn (back row, second and third from right) with their fellow Teachers Tournament competitors.

Game on Dillon (center) prepares for his round on set with some of the other contestants.

Sign me up Catherine Bloedorn '99 (white sweater) was the first contestant to try her hand at signing in on the Jeopardy! podium.

by Suzanne Seurattan | November 19, 2013

William & Mary alumnus Patrick Dillon ‘04 will appear tonight in a semi-final contest of Jeopardy’s Teacher’s Tournament. Jeopardy! airs on ABC affiliates nationwide. In Hampton Roads, the show airs at 7:30 p.m. on WVEC, Channel 13.

Dillon currently teaches music and chorus at Munsey Park Elementary School in New York. He was among 15 K-12 educators selected nationwide to participate in this year’s tournament.

The former history major advanced to the semi-finals last week after winning his quarterfinals contest. The round featured teacher-based categories like “Teaching the Teachers” and “Crossword Clues ‘F’” as well as more traditional categories, “That’s Totally Historical,” "Novels by Character” and “Quotable Quotes.” Dillion held the lead for most of the game clinching the victory with a correct final Jeopardy! answer to the following clue (see the solution at the end of this story):

Category: Historic Object
Clue: In 1802, three years after it was discovered, it was moved to London under the terms of the Surrender of Alexandria

Catherine Sullivan Bloedorn '99 also represented the Tribe in the tournament. A chemistry major and Monroe Scholar at William & Mary, Bloedorn teaches chemisty and forensics at Howard High School in Howard County, MD. She placed third in her quarter-final contest.

The tournament carries a $100,000 grand prize, and the winner receives an automatic berth to Jeopardy’s next Tournament of Champions. The Teachers Tournament runs through Nov. 22.

Dillon joins a proud list of other William & Mary alumni, faculty and students that have appeared on the program. Most recently, Zachary McDonnell ’15 appeared in the Jeopardy! College Championship in 2012, and Associate Professor of English Colleen Kennedy appeared on the program in 2010. William & Mary is also often a clue on the popular game show; the College’s Royal Charter, famous founding father alumnus and notable firsts – including the first fraternity and honor society -- prove to be popular fodder.

(Answer to the clue above: The Rosetta Stone)