Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2005 9:45 AM
Subject: [nabs] The Answers Were at Her Fingertips
The answers were at her fingertips
BY NEDRA RHONE
STAFF WRITER
January 26, 2005
She couldn't tell anyone how much money she won, nor could she reveal any
of the questions she answered. In fact, all Kerri Regan could say about
her appearance on the "Jeopardy!" Teen Tournament before it airs tomorrow
night was that it ranked among her top 10 life experiences.
"I wasn't nervous at first," Regan said. "Then I got up on the stage and I
was like, 'Whoa! I'm on "Jeopardy!"'"
Regan, 17, of Bethpage, was one of 15 teens across the country selected
for the annual Teen Tournament, which runs tomorrow through Feb. 8. For
Regan, her family and teams of local educators, it was the culmination of
a lot of hard work, said her mother, Liz Regan.
Kerri Regan, who has been blind since birth, is an avid reader who loves
historical fiction, fantasy and, of course, trivia. While her peers
learned to read ABCs with their eyes, she learned to read them with her
hands. With assistance from her teacher Judi Ross, who works with
vision-impaired students through Nassau BOCES, she learned to overcome
many challenges.
Before technology lightened the load, Regan, who attended elementary and
middle school in the Plainedge School District, carried a heavy Braille
machine to classes to complete assignments. She studied hard to
distinguish the easily confused Braille numbers and letters and over the
years adapted when school books weren't available in Braille and had to be
read aloud by peer volunteers. As a senior at Holy Trinity High School in
Hicksville, Regan is active in extracurricular activities and was
nominated for homecoming queen. She has applied to nine colleges and plans
to study secondary education, concentrating in history.
The longtime "Jeopardy!" fan would always enjoy the show with her parents
and younger brother, Matthew. So when she learned that the show was
holding open calls for teens in the spring, Regan signed up online.
She and more than 1,000 teens nationwide took a test and were evaluated on
their ability to play the game and have fun while doing it, said
"Jeopardy!" contestant executive Maggie Speak.
Regan took the all-expenses-paid trip to Los Angeles in October to film
the show. "That was cool to be one of the 15 smartest kids in America,"
she said.
The show eliminated any visual clues to accommodate Regan, who was
provided with categories in Braille by two consultants on the set. Her
Braille Note translated her Braille into the print that was displayed on
the show.
The one drawback? Regan's new guide dog wasn't allowed to accompany her
onstage. But host Alex Trebek proclaimed her pet the best-looking guide
dog in the audience.
Copyright (c) 2005, Newsday, Inc.
Shelley L. Rhodes and Judson, guiding golden
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Guide Dogs For the Blind Inc.
Graduate Advisory Council
www.guidedogs.com
The vision must be followed by the venture. It is not enough to
stare up the steps - we must step up the stairs.
-- Vance Havner
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