Why Jeopardy Contestants Are Wearing Blue Ribbons
If you’ve been watching Jeopardy this week, you might have noticed everyone on the set—contestants, host Alex Trebek, and even the crew—are sporting dark blue ribbons. It’s not just a fashion statement. These ribbons carry deep meaning, honoring the memory of a remarkable champion, Cindy Stowell, who would have been competing in this year's Tournament of Champions had she been here with us today.
Cindy Stowell: A Champion Both On and Off the Stage
Cindy Stowell, a science content developer from Austin, Texas, left an indelible mark on Jeopardy when she appeared on the show last year. Over the span of just six episodes, she amassed an impressive $103,000 in winnings. But what viewers didn’t know at the time was that Cindy was quietly battling Stage IV cancer. Despite her health challenges, Cindy approached her Jeopardy journey with a mission in mind—she planned to donate every penny of her winnings to the Cancer Research Institute. In her own words, she expressed her heartfelt desire: “I really would like the money that I win to be used to help others.”
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Cindy's Legacy Lives On
Tragically, Cindy passed away on December 5, just eight days before her episodes aired on national television. But in her final days, she got to experience the joy of seeing her hard-earned victories. Jeopardy made sure of that by sending her the first three episodes of her run and even expedited the delivery of her winnings so she could receive them while she was still with us. Alex Trebek, in his heartfelt tribute on the show, said, “She was an inspiration to everybody, and it was a privilege to watch her play.” Executive Producer Harry Friedman echoed those sentiments, adding, “Cindy came on the show with a mission. We gave her the opportunity to fulfill that mission and she made the most of it.”
Jeopardy's Tribute to Cindy Stowell
Today, the entire Jeopardy family—host, contestants, crew, and behind-the-scenes staff—are wearing blue ribbons during the Tournament of Champions to honor Cindy's memory and raise awareness about cancer. In addition to the ribbons, the show has pledged a $10,000 donation to the Cancer Research Institute in Cindy’s name, continuing her legacy of giving back.
“Cindy came on Jeopardy to play the game she loved and, in doing so, she was able to make a contribution to cancer research in the hopes that no one else would have to go through what she did,” her loved ones said in a statement. If you’re inspired by Cindy’s story and would like to contribute to the Cancer Research Institute, you can visit their website at cancerresearch.org.
