While the students of Wenatchee High School spent their first days back from Winter Break in class learning about complex numbers or where the 195 countries are located on the world map, Assistant Principal Dave Perkins was spending his Jan. 6 answering trivia questions of Jeopardy!.

“I have been a fan [of Jeopardy!] for as long as I can remember,” Perkins said. “The way I see it, it was one of my favorite shows. It is a challenge, was a challenge. It’s a difficult show to be on. They only consider 400 of 100,000 applicants a year. I am still blown away that I achieved being on the show.”

The process to be on Jeopardy! isn’t as simple as one may think, Perkins said. The process is as follows:Take an online test of 50 questions. Which takes place yearly around January or February.

• Register for a city to audition in.
• Applicants are notified via email if they are selected to audition.
• Selected applicants take a paper and pencil test followed by a mock version of the show. The point of the mock show is for the production staff to try and get a sense of the contestants personality, if they speak clearly and loud enough, are engaging, being enthusiastic, and just having fun.

• Final applicants have to 18 months in the “contestant pool” to be contacted by a contestant coordinator. The “contestant pool” is about 400 people in whom producers may contact to be an official contestant on the show.
  “

  I have been a fan [of Jeopardy!] for as long as I can remember. The way I see it, it was one of my favorite shows. It is a challenge, was a challenge. It’s a difficult show to be on. They only consider 400 of 100,000 applicants a year. I am still blown away that I achieved being on the show.

  — Assistant Principal Dave Perkins

“I guess I convinced them I was those things (loud, fun, and engaging),” Perkins said.

Perkins first applied to be on Jeopardy! in January 2013 and was told he would be contacted if the contestant coordinators were interested in him. In August 2013 Perkins was invited to compete in the Teachers Tournament. However, at that time, Perkins had just transitioned to being an administrator and was ineligible to compete. Fast forward to a little over a year later, he was contacted and accepted to compete in November 2014 where he learned the show would be filmed on Jan. 6.

Being up on a stage in front of a live studio audience of about 250 people may seem nerve wracking, but for Perkins “you barely even notice the audience.”

Although Perkins can’t give any specifics about how he did or the questions asked until the show airs, he welcomes questions about the experience as a whole.

“My strategy, number one, was to play aggressively. Number two, if I got any daily doubles I would bet aggressively,” Perkins said. “I also wanted to jump around the board. Not just go straight down the categories. It has been a good strategy for others. I really just wanted to have fun. I had one shot at it (being on Jeopardy!) and you have to enjoy it and savor the moment. Just try and have fun with it.”

Regardless on how he played, Perkins was just glad he was able to be on the show.

“I don’t have any regrets on how I played. I would play again if I could and would recommend anyone who is interested to do it,” Perkins said.

Anyone who wishes to view the airing of the show can watch it March 4 on Channel 4 at 7:30 p.m.

“I want to thank everybody for their support … and overall positive vibes that were sent my way through the process,” Perkins said. “Clearly having the support of my wife and family pushed me to try my best and live my dream.”