More than a dozen students crowded on the couches surrounding the television in Andrews Hall on Thursday to cheer on Anne Rozek as she competed on ‘Jeopardy!’.

When Rozek, junior geography major, appeared on the screen, the viewers erupted into cheers.

The basement of Andrews Hall was decorated in blue and white streamers, with balloons and pictures of Rozek on the set of ‘Jeopardy!’.

“It was awesome that everyone got so excited and happy when I got a question right,” Rozek said.

Her friends watched the taping of ‘Jeopardy!’ and were impressed with her performance on the show.

Megan McQueen, a sophomore sociology major and friend of Rozek’s, was one of the people who threw the party for Rozek’s appearance on ‘Jeopardy!’.

“Anne’s a really good friend of mine and we wanted to throw a party for her because it’s exciting,” McQueen said. “She did a great job.”

The ‘Jeopardy!’ questions ranged from pop culture related subjects like the alternative band My Chemical Romance, Shake Weights and “jeggings,” to more academic-based questions like 19th century writers and post-impressionism.

Rozek ended the show in third place with a total of $11,500.

Dan Nadler, the vice president for student affairs, joined the viewing party for Rozek because he said he wanted to show his support and he was curious about how she fared on the show.

“She did an incredible job,” Nadler said. “It shows at Eastern Illinois University, students can compete with anyone in the country.”

Rozek faced two other opponents, one from George Washington University, located in Washington, D.C. and one from University of Michigan.

Rozek said the contestants would wait together in the green room and be picked in teams of three to compete in the quarterfinals, with all five games of the quarterfinals being taped that day.

Rozek said she really enjoyed the time she spent with other contestants in the green room while the show was filming.

“They are all super awesome and nice,” Rozek said.

Rozek said she remained friends with the other contestants and said they are all Facebook friends, even talking to each other about what Internet bloggers were saying about them online.

Rozek said the people of Jeopardy! paid for her flight, hotel room that slept up to four people, and a stipend of $670. Rozek said the majority of her stipend went to cab fare after being in Los Angeles for three days, filming two of those days.

Toward the end of the program, Rozek waved and mouthed “Hi mom!” to the camera, since her mom did not come with her to film the show.

Kathryn Richter can be reached at 581-2812 or kjrichter@eiu.edu