Contact: Nema Brewer-Candy • First Posted: Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Will Walters, a rising eighth-grader at Lexington Traditional Magnet School, banked $29,999 during Kids Week on "Jeopardy!”

He qualified for the popular game show after taking an online test last summer and auditioning in Chicago.

“Will is on the academic team at LTMS and has been playing quick recall since fourth grade. So playing the game for him was no problem,” said his mom, Billie Walters.

In addition to his cash prize, Will won a trip to Costa Rica for his family. Read more about his experience on Kentucky.com.

The back story

Unlike the regular “Jeopardy!” format, Kids Week contestants don’t advance to play again the following day. Each student plays only one day, so there are five winners among the 15 kids in the weeklong tournament.

The prizes are $1,000 for third place, $2,000 for second place and a minimum $15,000 for first place. If the champion tallies more than $15,000 in the game, he gets to keep the larger amount.

“No one goes home empty-handed,” Walters noted.

This year’s winners and their families also receive a trip to one of five destinations: the Arctic region of Norway; the rainforests of Costa Rica and the Panama Canal; Baja, Mexico; the wilderness of Alaska; or the Galapagos Islands.

Of all the children who took the online test last summer, 250 were picked to audition nationwide. Will’s tryout last October included another knowledge test, a personality interview and a mock game against other kids.

After his selection as a contestant for the age 10-12 tournament, Will flew to Los Angeles in March for the show’s taping. The behind-the-scenes experience was exciting for the whole family.

“One of the best things was him getting to meet kids from all over the country,” Walters said. 

 

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Photo courtesy of 'Jeopardy!' Productions Inc.