An auditorium of joyful Fenwick High School students erupted in cheers Tuesday afternoon when Colby Burnett, a Fenwick alum and AP World History teacher from Chicago, won the final round of the Jeopardy! Teachers Tournament.
Burnett had to keep mum on the tournament’s outcome, originally taped seven weeks ago, reports ABC Chicago.
A graduate of the private college preparatory school himself, Burnett had promised in an early interview with Jeopardy! producers he would use his winnings to get his mother a new home.
The Jeopardy! champ told the Tribune his mother, Wilma, who lives in the city’s Austin neighborhood, worked the night shift to help pay his tuition when he attended the Oak Park, Ill. prep school.
Now that the 29-year-old has won the $100,000 prize, the Tribune said Burnett intends to buy his mother a condo in the area.
“My mom has always supported me, and I’ve wanted to give her a house for quite some time,” Burnett was quoted as saying in a news release distributed by the show.
Source: Huffington Post
