An online quiz, taken nearly one year ago, resulted in a dream opportunity for Northeast Elementary School music teacher Laurin “Buffy” Thoms.  After two previous attempts to become a contestant on the “Jeopardy!” game show,last September, Thoms finally received the call. She was invited to Culver City, California to compete on the popular game show.  “It was a very exciting and pleasurable experience,” she recalled.  The process required patience. It began with an online quiz in February, then a regional contestant search in Houston, Texas in May and finally the show taping in October.

Thoms says she was among 50 potential contestants who participated in a mock interview and mock game, complete with buzzers, in Houston. She made the cut and was invited to the Sony Studios to take her shot at getting the right questions for host Alex Trebek’s answers.  Thoms proved to be a tough opponent. “I came from behind and won the first game,” she said.  She also admits having a strong advantage in the final “Jeopardy!” round.  The topic was adjectives and for a former English teacher of over 25 years, that was a perfect scenario.  The “Jeopardy!” episodes which featured Thoms aired during the week of January 21, 2008.  She says it was difficult to keep quiet about her one game victory for three months. 

The trip to Los Angeles was also a family affair.  Thoms was joined by her daughter Katy Vance, who is a teacher in the Washington D.C. area and a former student in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System.  “She was by my side the whole time,” she said.

Thoms says she has been a loyal viewer of “Jeopardy!” since the 1960’s.