Adrian College professor collects big payday on ‘Jeopardy!’

Jeopardy host Alex Trebek stands next to Stephanie Jass after she won more than $147,000 on the quiz show. Jass is an associate professor from Michigan.

Adrian College history professor Stephanie Jass ended her eight-day run on the TV game show Jeopardy! with $147,570 in cash and a spot among the top 15 winners in the history of the show.

Ms. Jass of Milan, Mich., began her run on the show Oct. 8 and ended this week.

“The money seems imaginary at this point,” Jass said in a news release. “It was unbelievable to see the numbers get bigger and bigger on screen.”

She credited her husband, Doug Baker, as well as her father-in-law, Ken, for her success. “I took the online test once last year, but I didn’t do well enough to get contacted. This year, my husband encouraged me to take it again, and I aced it. My father-in-law, a retired electrical engineer, also made me a signaling device that lights up when you press it to practice with.”

She said in the release that she plans to use her winnings to travel, possibly buy an electric car, and contribute to charities that are important to her.

Jass received a bachelor of arts in history from Valparaiso University, as well as a master of arts in American Culture Studies from Bowling Green State University and a doctorate in history from Western Michigan University.