Based in Lafayette, Indiana

Based in Lafayette, Indiana

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Based in Lafayette, Indiana
Based in Lafayette, Indiana
West Lafayette’s new ‘Jeopardy’ champ. Who is Adriana Harmeyer?
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West Lafayette’s new ‘Jeopardy’ champ. Who is Adriana Harmeyer?

Meet the Purdue archivist who is two wins into a run on ‘Jeopardy.’ Plus, Indiana Republicans come to Donald Trump’s aid after jury says former president was guilty on 34 counts in hush money trial

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Dave Bangert
May 31, 2024
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Based in Lafayette, Indiana
Based in Lafayette, Indiana
West Lafayette’s new ‘Jeopardy’ champ. Who is Adriana Harmeyer?
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  • Today’s edition is backed by sponsor The Arts Federation, presenting the Taste of Tippecanoe June 15 in downtown Lafayette. For tickets, music lineups and food vendors for the annual festival, go to tasteoftippecanoe.org.

Click here for tickets and more information

WEST LAFAYETTE’S NEW ‘JEOPARDY’ CHAMP. WHO IS ADRIANA HARMEYER?

Part of Adriana Harmeyer’s day job as an archivist of university history with Purdue’s Archives and Special Collections is running down answers and finding the bits and pieces that document the West Lafayette campus’ story.

“I answer weird questions about Purdue history all the time,” Harmeyer said. “Basically anything you can think of that would relate to saving, preserving, teaching and using materials from Purdue's history, that's probably me.”

This week, the questions floating her way have been all things “Jeopardy,” as Harmeyer’s run on the quiz show started with a victory Wednesday evening.

“It’s been wild to me,” Harmeyer said. “The thing that’s most surprised me, in a positive way, is just in the reaction and all the lovely, kind, supportive messages I’ve gotten since winning (Wednesday) night.”

Adriana Harmeyer. (Screenshot, via ‘Jeopardy’)

Wednesday night, Harmeyer watched the show taped more than a month ago with a small group of friends. Thursday, she’d planned to keep tabs in a tighter setting, knowing how things turn out but not allowed to tell until after the broadcasts.

“It all was such a blur in the moment, because it all just comes at you when you’re there,” Harmeyer said. “It’s been fun to see everything I missed or didn’t remember while I was on stage.”

How it went, at least so far and as much as she can say: Back-to-back wins Wednesday and Thursday, for a two-day total of $46,200. Harmeyer will be back to defend Friday. (Locally, “Jeopardy” airs at 7:30 p.m. weeknights on WLFI-TV18.)

Question: How long ago was it that you taped these episodes?

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