Alex Trebek to give 2010 Grosvenor Distinguished Lecture

By Ann Friou
University News Service
April 14, 2010

Alex Trebek, best known as host of the television quiz show Jeopardy!, will give the 2010 Grosvenor Distinguished Lecture at Texas State University-San Marcos on Wednesday, April 21.

Titled “Answers and Questions with Alex Trebek,” the lecture will begin at 7 p.m. in the Alkek Teaching Theater. The lecture will also be streamed live via the Department of Geography web site: http://www.geo.txstate.edu.

In its 12th year, the annual Grosvenor Distinguished Lecture is sponsored by the Gilbert M. Grosvenor Center for Geographic Education at Texas State. It also sponsored by Texas State’s River Systems Institute, the James and Marilyn Lovell Center for Environmental Geography and Hazards Research, and the Department of Geography. Previous Distinguished Lecturers have included conservationist Patrick Noonan, President and CEO of the National Geographic Society John Fahey, Jr., and Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison.

Since the debut of Jeopardy! in 1984, Trebek has challenged and entertained millions of viewers worldwide during nearly 6,000 episodes. In addition to receiving five Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Game Show Host, he has been honored with stars on both the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Canadian Walk of Fame.

In addition to hosting Jeopardy!, Trebek hosts the Annual National Geographic Bee in Washington, D.C. In 2009, he hosted the National Geographic World Championship in Mexico City.

Trebek conducts a variety of other educational and charitable activities, including USO visits to military bases around the world, building schools and houses in Third World countries, and providing support for The Smile Train, an international organization which has provided free cleft palate surgery for more than half a million poverty-stricken children in developing countries. He has also served for many years as the honorary Grand Marshall for the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade in Washington, D.C.

Seating is expected to fill quickly, so attendees should arrive early. For those who are not able to attend Trebek's lecture in person, live streaming video of his presentation will be available through the Department of Geography's website at http://www.geo.txstate.edu/. For event information, contact the Grosvenor Center for Geographic Education at (512) 245-1823 or jb42@txstate.edu.