An Alma College alum will get a “second chance” at glory on “Jeopardy!” next year.
Pete Johnston, a native of Alma and member of the Class of 2007, will appear on the 2025 Second Chance Tournament, the game show announced Monday.
Johnston was asked to return based on the strength of his performance in the game that aired July 15, when he finished with $28,201 but lost to then-nine-time champion Scott Ricciardi.
Johnston got an early start in competitive trivia as a member of the Quiz Bowl team at Alma High School before moving on to Alma College, where he majored in studio art with a concentration in photography. He was deeply influenced by professors like Sandy Lopez-Isnardi, Carrie Parks-Kirby and Bob Rozier.
Johnston also credits Alma’s liberal arts approach for giving him the kind of broad knowledge base that comes in handy on a show like “Jeopardy!.”
“That broad background is really key,” he said. “You take sociology, geography, history, communications, math — everything. It makes a huge difference.”
Johnston, 41, is currently a Lansing resident and faculty member in the Michigan State University film studies program.