ALMA — A lifelong love of trivia and a strong liberal arts education came together for one Alma native in the most exciting way: a spot on “Jeopardy!.”

Pete Johnston, a 2003 graduate of Alma High School and 2007 graduate of Alma College, will make his debut on the iconic quiz show on Tuesday, July 15, and local fans are encouraged to tune in and cheer him on.

“The moment I stepped on that stage, it was surreal,” he said. “It felt like I was inside the TV show I’ve watched my whole life. It moved really quickly, almost in a blur. So, I’ll be excited to check it out for myself and remember all that happened.”

For Johnston, trivia has long been a part of life. Growing up in a household of eight children in Alma, the family was a devoted “Jeopardy!” household, watching the show every night and facing the challenge of getting a correct answer before another family member did.

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.

“They really shaped me as a student and artist,” he said. “It was such a supportive environment.”

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.”

Currently a Lansing resident and faculty member in the Michigan State University film studies program, Johnston described his process of getting on the show as a fairly casual one. He took the “Jeopardy!” online test on a whim and was somewhat surprised to advance through the process — each step involving additional exams, Zoom-monitored assessments, and even a mock game played virtually with other potential contestants.

He finally received the official invitation in March and taped his episode in Culver City, California, in May. To prepare, Johnston ordered a recommended mock buzzer online and did daily drills to train his reflexes. He also studied up on categories, with mixed success.

“I don’t know if any of what I studied actually came up,” he laughed. “That’s the thing about ‘Jeopardy!’ — it’s this huge world of knowledge, and you never know what’s going to show up. The buzzer is a critical aspect of it, though. It’s all about timing.”
A longtime fan of the show’s legendary host, the late Alex Trebek, Johnston said that meeting the show’s current host, Ken Jennings, was a thrill in its own right.

“(Jennings) came by before anything even started — before wardrobe or makeup — and just introduced himself to all of us. He said, ‘I’ve been in your shoes. I know what it’s like,’” Johnston recalled. “He was so gracious, and then once the cameras were on — total pro. Funny, smart, quick.”

Johnston even got a photo with Jennings — complete with finger guns. “He was like, ‘What should we do for the picture?’ I said, ‘How about finger guns?’ He was totally game. That was awesome,” Johnston said.

Looking back, Johnston said he’s proud just to have had the chance.

“This wasn’t something I had on a bucket list or anything — it just started with me thinking, ‘Maybe I’ll take the test.’ And that’s the lesson: It’s okay to shoot for the stars. You might surprise yourself.”

He encourages anyone even slightly curious about the show to give the online test a shot. As for his performance? No spoilers — viewers will have to tune in July 15 to find out how he fared.

But regardless of the outcome, he said: “My goal was just to have fun and try my best. And by those measures, it was a total success.”

In Gratiot County, “Jeopardy!” airs at 7 p.m. EST on CBS.