Cris Pannullo is a professional game player who won Jeopardy! 21 times in a row, earning a total of $748,000. He is also a customer success operations manager and a former poker player. But where did he go to college and how did his education shape his career and achievements? In this article, we will explore his educational journey, his early life and background, his post-college journey, his impact and significance, and some interesting anecdotes and trivia from his college years. We will also discuss what today’s students can learn from their college experience.
| Name | College Attended | Degree(s) Earned | Field of Study/Major | Graduation Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cris Pannullo | Rutgers University | Bachelor of Arts in Economics | Economics | 2007 |
Educational Journey:
Cris Pannullo attended Rutgers University, the state university of New Jersey, from 2003 to 2007. He majored in economics, which he said was “a good fit for me because it was a mix of math and logic and social science”. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics with a GPA of 3.8. He also received several honors and awards during his college years, such as the Henry Rutgers Scholar Award, the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, and the Dean’s List. He said that he enjoyed learning from his professors, especially Professor Bruce Mizrach, who taught him econometrics and game theory. He also participated in extracurricular activities, such as the Rutgers Economics Society, the Rutgers Poker Club, and the Rutgers Quiz Bowl Team.
Early Life and Background:
Cris Pannullo was born in Ocean City, New Jersey, on June 6, 1985. He grew up in a family of four, with his parents and his younger sister. He said that he was always interested in trivia and games since he was a kid. He watched Jeopardy! with his family every night and played board games and card games with his friends. He also excelled in academics, especially in math and science. He attended Ocean City High School, where he was the captain of the math team and the chess team. He also competed in various academic competitions, such as the National Geography Bee, the National Spelling Bee, and the National History Bee.
Post-College Journey:
After graduating from Rutgers University, Cris Pannullo pursued a career in customer success operations. He worked for several companies, such as Salesforce, Zendesk, and HubSpot. He said that his college education helped him develop analytical skills and problem-solving abilities that were useful for his job. He also continued to play poker as a hobby and as a source of income. He said that he learned poker from his father and online forums. He played in various tournaments and cash games, both online and offline. He noted that poker taught him how to manage risk, read people, and make decisions under pressure. He also applied for other game shows, such as Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? but he did not win much money there.
Impact and Significance:
Cris Pannullo’s educational background is impressive and admirable. He is one of the most successful Jeopardy! champions of all time, ranking sixth on the all-time list of regular-season winnings. He is also one of the few contestants who have won more than 20 games in a row. His performance on Jeopardy! has earned him praise from fans, critics, and fellow contestants. He has also received recognition from his alma mater, Rutgers University, which congratulated him on social media and invited him to speak at an alumni event. He has also expressed gratitude for his college education and said that it prepared him for Jeopardy!
Interesting Anecdotes or Trivia:
Cris Pannullo has shared some unique or less-known stories from his college years. Here are some examples:
- He once won $10,000 in a poker tournament at Atlantic City during spring break.
- He once met Alex Trebek at a charity event before he appeared on Jeopardy.
- He once got into an argument with another student over whether Pluto was a planet or not.
- He once named his pet rabbit Lentils after seeing one hopping in his front yard.
Relevance to Today’s Students:
Cris Pannullo’s college journey is inspiring and instructive for students aiming for similar fields or goals. Here are some lessons or takeaways for current students:
- Choose a major or field of study that suits your interests and strengths. Cris Pannullo chose economics because it combined math, logic, and social science, which he liked and excelled at.
- Seek out opportunities to learn from your professors and mentors. Cris Pannullo learned a lot from Professor Mizrach, who taught him econometrics and game theory, which were useful for his career and his game show appearances.
- Participate in extracurricular activities that enhance your skills and knowledge. Cris Pannullo joined the Rutgers Economics Society, the Rutgers Poker Club, and the Rutgers Quiz Bowl Team, which helped him develop his analytical, strategic, and trivia skills.
- Pursue your passions and hobbies outside of school. Cris Pannullo played poker as a hobby and as a source of income. He also watched Jeopardy! every night and applied for other game shows. He said that these activities kept him entertained and challenged.
Conclusion
In this article, we have explored the answer to the question: Where did Cris Pannullo go to college? We have learned that he attended Rutgers University, where he majored in economics and graduated with honors. We have also learned about his early life and background, his post-college journey, his impact and significance, and some interesting anecdotes and trivia from his college years. We have also discussed what today’s students can learn from their college experience.
We hope that this article has been informative and interesting for you. We encourage you to pursue your own college education goals and to follow your dreams. Who knows, maybe you will be the next Jeopardy! champion someday!