Kennesaw State Alumnus In Jeopardy! Final

Press release from Kennesaw State University:

Feb 22, 2022

Kennesaw State alumnus in Jeopardy! final

KENNESAW, Ga.
(Feb 22, 2022) — Update: Recent Kennesaw State University graduate Raymond Goslow has advanced to the
finals of the 2022 Jeopardy! National College Championship and competes on tonight's
episode of the trivia show for a chance to win the grand prize of $250,000.

Join the KSU community in cheering on our fellow Owl at watch parties at both the
Kennesaw and Marietta campuses. Doors open for both events at 7:15 p.m., and the broadcast
begins at 8 p.m. The events will be held at the Carmichael Student Center on the Kennesaw
campus and the Joe Mack Wilson Student Center on the Marietta campus.

KENNESAW, Ga. (Feb 15, 2022) – Kennesaw State University graduate Raymond Goslow grew up watching "Jeopardy!" and
said he always had ambitions to be on the show.

During his junior year, Goslow, a geospatial sciences major in the Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences, had a chance to try out for the "Jeopardy!" National College Championship. He began
the process in October 2020, and a series of tests, interviews and auditions meant
he made it under the wire before his graduation, traveling to California for filming
in November 2021.

“To be eligible I still had to be in school, so luckily they taped it before my graduation
in December,” Goslow said. “I was very lucky it all worked out like that.”

The tournament features 36 undergraduates from across the country competing for a
$250,000 grand prize and the title of "Jeopardy!" National College Champion. Second
place takes home $100,000, third place leaves with $50,000, fourth takes home $35,000,
and eight semi-finalists receive $20,000. The 24 quarterfinalists receive $10,000
each.

Of the 36 schools represented, Goslow said well-known names like Harvard and New York
University dominated the list, so placing Kennesaw State University on a national
stage and showing that its students can also compete with the very best was special
for him, he said.

“Getting the chance to represent KSU in the tournament really made me fall in love
with the school. With COVID and my job, most of my classes were online, so I spent
a lot of time away from campus. But now that I’ve had the chance to represent KSU
on a national stage, you can bet I’ll be telling everyone I meet, ‘Heck yeah, I was
an Owl!’” Goslow said.

Goslow also said his geospatial sciences major at KSU, one that involves data analysis
from a range of topics using geographic location as a variable, helped expose him
to wide range of subjects and further prepare him for "Jeopardy!"

To his professors, it makes sense that Goslow — a self-described “information omnivore”
and “learning addict” — made a "Jeopardy!" appearance. During his time at KSU, Goslow
worked full time analyzing and mapping data for the Cobb County Public Library System
and creating crossword puzzles to be used on the system’s website. He also worked
in partnership with two of his professors and three professors from University of
North Georgia to create and modify data mapping labs for an introductory geospatial
mapping course.

“Raymond was one of our best students, who took every opportunity in our courses and
program to succeed,” said Allen Roberts, Geospatial Sciences program director and
associate professor of Geography and Geospatial Sciences. “He always went the extra
mile throughout the program, and I am not surprised by his appearance on 'Jeopardy!'
He is not only a great representation of our program but of KSU as a whole.”

Between the excitement of appearing on the show, the chance to win thousands of dollars
and the travel, Goslow said "Jeopardy!" was the experience of a lifetime.

Between filming, he and the other students explored Culver City, California, tried
nearby restaurants and watched the broadcasts of other "Jeopardy!" episodes from the
"Wheel of Fortune" studios. The show covered airfare, hotel and expenses for the students,
he said.

Mayim Bialik and Raymond Goslow

“It didn’t feel real for a really long time,” he said, adding that only in late January
could he begin talking with anyone about his appearance. “Until then it was kind of
like, ‘Did this even happen? Did I just dream it all?’”

Goslow said now that he’s attained a lifelong dream of competing on the show, watching
from home feels different.

“I used to beat myself up when I was watching and I didn’t know the answer,” he said.
“Now, it’s just fun to watch other people compete and know that I did what I did.”

And as tempted as he may be to share the outcome of his "Jeopardy!" experience, Goslow
said he and the other college competitors are sworn to secrecy. So, he added, “You’ll
just have to watch and find out.”

The "Jeopardy!" National College Championship, hosted by Mayim Bialik of “The Big
Bang Theory” fame, airs on ABC and streams on Hulu.

The tournament began Feb. 8, and the final episode airs Feb. 22 at 8 p.m. Goslow’s
appearance in the show begins Feb. 15 at 8 p.m.

– By Thomas HartwellPhotos courtesy of Jeopardy Productions, Inc.

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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its nearly 43,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.

This press release was produced by Kennesaw State University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.