The Category is…Three-Time Jeopardy Champion—The Answer is…Who is Alpha School Alum Nina-Rose Netchi Ginocchio?
The late Alex Trebek with Alpha Alum and 3-time Jeopardy champion, Nina-Rose Netchi Ginocchio.
During its nearly 100-year existence, Providence Heights Alpha School has produced many successful servant leaders and innovative thinkers, including engineers, scientists, doctors, bankers, accountants, designers, teachers, artists, dancers, and writers. Our alum not only have accomplished much professionally, but have made significant contributions to their communities and raised families who are continuing the legacy of their parents.
Only one alum (that we know of!), however, can claim that not only did she appear on the legendary gameshow Jeopardy, but she won not one, but three times. That’s exactly what 1974 Alum Nina-Rose Netchi Ginocchio did in 2009. Nina credits her love of reading nurtured at Providence Heights Alpha School for contributing to her success on the show.
“I have always been an avid reader, and my teachers at Alpha School encouraged and supported my reading habit,” she says. “To this day, I have a stack of books on my night stand, and I am often reading and listening to several books at the same time.”
After graduating from Alpha School, Nina attended Shady Side Academy, and then went to the University of Notre Dame, where she was member of its famous marching band. Not only did she make lifelong friends in the band, but it’s where she met her future husband Don.
Following her graduation from Notre Dame, Nina began her business career at Mellon Bank in Pittsburgh. While working there, she attended Duquesne University at night and received her MBA. She then moved to Chicago after getting married, and raised two children, Tony and Angela. Early in her career in the corporate world, she was able to take advantage of job-sharing opportunities, which allowed flexibility in her schedule as her children were growing up.
“I also spent many, many years working in libraries,” she says. “The library work (both public and school libraries) was definitely my favorite.”
Of course one of Nina’s lifetime achievements was appearing on the game show, Jeopardy in 2009. “I won 3 consecutive games, and I had an amazing experience on the show.” But how did her participation in the show come about?
According to Nina, she and her son, Tony, were regular Jeopardy viewers. The show aired at 3:30 p.m. in Chicago, so it was a perfect way for the mother and son to bond and take part in a friendly competition. Her son used to say “Welcome to Jeopardy” in a kidding way when a contestant didn’t answer any questions for an extensive period of time (either because of stage fright or having poor timing).
One day she decided to submit a postcard to the show (yes, that was the way it was done “back in the day”), and she was invited to participate in auditions in downtown hotel. She took a written test along with many other Jeopardy hopefuls. She never heard back. Another year or two went by, and the contestant test had moved online. She took the test and was invited back downtown to audition. This time, potential contestants were assessed to see if they were “camera friendly,” and groups of 18 were taken to compete with the signaling devices.
“It was so much fun,” says Nina. “The producers were wonderful and we had the opportunity to play against fellow contestants.” According to Nina, the experience was so great, that she thought that even if she wasn’t selected for the show, she was truly happy.
She didn’t hear back and assumed she hadn’t been selected; however, about 7 months later she received a call while she was at work. She waited until after-school hours to return the call, and was excited to find out that she was invited to California to appear on the show.
On a Tuesday morning in March, she and 17 other contestants showed up at the studio, where 5 Jeopardy shows are taped per day. Nina and her fellow contestants were initially ushered into the Green Room. While their makeup was being applied, they met with the show’s attorneys to discuss the rules and legal obligations to ensure the integrity of the game.
The group of contestants then proceeded to the audience area and the returning champion appeared at the firstJeopardy podium. Two contestants were randomly called to play against him. Nina’s turn was called (after the lunch break).
One of her biggest fears was being a “Welcome to Jeopardy” contestant, as her son had often joked. Her fear was quickly allayed.
“I answered the first question, so then I knew everything would be fine,” she said. Her husband, mom, dad, and sister Nancy (also an Alpha alum) proudly cheered for her in the audience
Nina went on to win three games in a row, accumulating approximately $54,000. The show taped in March and aired at the end of June, but Nina didn’t receive her winnings until September. “They don’t immediately hand you a check after you win,” she says.
Other interesting tidbits Nina shared from her time on the show—the late Alex Trebek interacted more with the audience than with the contestants during commercial breaks. Why? According to Nina, producers surrounded the contestants (to ensure that the integrity of the game), and they don’t even want raise the possibility of a host passing answers along to contestants.
In addition, there are lights on the podiums that count down so contestants know when they’re permitted to buzz in—you can’t buzz in early or you’re blocked from answering the questions. That’s why you see some current contestants banging on their buzzers or seeming to press extraordinarily hard…they mistimed their responses.
Years after her time on Jeopardy, Nina decided to change careers and is now a registered yoga teacher. Her practice focuses on the nervous system and helping her students to tune into mind, body, and spirit.
She enjoys teaching yoga at her local hospital and other locations in the Chicago area. She is passionate about yoga and feels that it can benefit everyone. Even though it’s been many years, memories of Alpha still permeate her life.
“When I was at Alpha School, the emergency room at Passavant faced the playground. Ambulances would arrive throughout the day, and our teachers would encourage us to pause our play when we heard the sirens and say a prayer for the people arriving. It’s a nice practice, and I continue that to this day,” she says. “When I teach yoga at the hospital, my room faces the highway entrance to the emergency room. Sirens are blaring all the time, and I still pause and remember to say a prayer.
Even her hobbies, including needlepoint, knitting and crocheting, stemmed from her time at Alpha School.
“While in 8th grade, our service project included visiting the elderly nuns in the upper floors of the Motherhouse. I was assigned to Sister Ladislaus. I visited her weekly, and she taught me to crochet a pair of slippers for my mom. I think that my mom might still have them!”
Nina’s career and hobbies have taken her in several directions but she’s thankful that she had a strong foundation by attending Providence Heights Alpha School. We’re grateful for Nina, and couldn’t be prouder…oops, that brings up yet another memory. Nina was an Alpha cheerleader, and “We’re from Alpha, couldn’t be prouder, if you can’t hear us, we’ll say it a little louder” was a popular sideline cheer at the time!
—Anne Muth Orlando
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