A junior from Silver Spring, Maryland...

Michael Braun

What happened when you found out you were going to be a contestant?
Well, when I heard I could try out for Teen Jeopardy!, it was from my former quiz bowl captain Casey Retterer, who was actually on College Jeopardy! this year. But I tried out in Nashville. And then, the day I found out I got on Jeopardy! the FedEx truck went by the road right when I was getting off the bus, and I had a gut feeling that it was from Jeopardy!, so I go to my house, get the package, and it is Jeopardy! And the funny thing is, the keychain that I got at the try-out, was the keychain I pulled out instead of the other one to open the door to my house.

How did you prepare for today?
To prepare for Jeopardy!, I mostly worked with my quiz bowl team, just studying for that like I normally do. I borrowed the Jeopardy! 2003 computer game from another quiz bowl captain, and I looked at the book by Alex Trebek about Jeopardy!

If you had a "dream Jeopardy! category," what would it be?
My dream Jeopardy! categories would be STARGATE SG-1, and JEWISH HOLIDAYS.

What will you do with the money you win?
If I win some money, I'm going to use some of it for college, and then save a lot, so I can use it later.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Ten years from now, I want to be working for a computer company, or doing computer stuff for some other company.

Do you have a particular role model?
I consider Bill Gates somewhat of a role model, 'cause, he used his intelligence, and now he's now, like, the richest man in America, I think. So... Bill Gates.

2005 Ultimate Tournament of Champions Round 1 player: $5,000.
2005 Teen Tournament winner: $75,000 + a computer package.

16 at the time of the Teen Tournament.

Jeopardy! Message Board user name: k3lnt