Local Native Roey Hadar Has the Answers for “Jeopardy” Appearance

Answer: This Fair Haven native, a graduate of both Georgetown University and Columbia University who is currently working as a journalist, was an eighth grade student when he represented New Jersey as the state champion in the National Geographic Bee in Washington, DC, where he first met Jeopardy host Alex Trebek. This year, he will be appearing with Trebek again, this time as a contestant on Jeopardy.

Question: Who is…Roey Hadar?

If you guessed correctly – or even if you didn’t – you may want to set a reminder to tune in to channel 7 (ABC) at 7 pm on Wednesday, July 17, 2019 to watch the esteemed television game show, Jeopardy. That’s the date when Roey Hadar will appear on air for the first time as a contestant in the popular and challenging quiz competition, where participants are given tidbits of general knowledge in various categories in the form of answers and must phrase their responses in the form of questions.

Jeopardy has been hosted since 1984 by Alex Trebek, who made headlines when he announced in March of 2019 that he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer but is determined to fight it and continue with his contract, which expires in 2020. It was back in April of 2009 that he was first met by Roey Hadar. Then an eighth grader at Rumson Country Day School, Hadar was the first place winner of the New Jersey National Geographic Bee, competing against more than 100 other semi-finalists and achieving a perfect score. He traveled to Washington, DC for the national competition, which was hosted by Alex Trebek.

Almost exactly 10 years later, in April 2019, Hadar traveled to the Jeopardy studios in Culver, CA as a contestant on the show, having taken the test to qualify two years prior.

Clearly brilliant, Hadar received his bachelor’s degree at Georgetown University before going on to graduate from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. He is currently living in Arlington, VA and works as a journalist, doing research and providing production assistance for the PBS program “Washington Week.” An alumnus of both Rumson Country Day School and Ranney School, he has a wide circle of enormously proud family, friends, teachers, fellow alumni, and fans in Fair Haven and throughout the Monmouth County community. Many of them also know him through his longtime volunteer work at the annual Fair Haven Fireman’s Fair and with the non-profit organization Holiday Express, where he continues to volunteer each year for Christmas Eve.

Although the show – or shows – has already been taped, Hadar must remain completely mum when it comes to revealing any of the results. The one thing that everyone does already know is that he did not compete against James Holzhauer, the long-reigning and now former Jeopardy champion who was recently dethroned.

For information about Jeopardy and to follow updates on Roey Hadar’s appearance, including where and when to watch it on television to cheer him on, go to www.jeopardy.com/watch.