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Compiled by "Smart Mouth" columnist Amelia Robinson, Seen and Overheard is fueled by juicy tidbits, oddball tales and strange sightings.
Home > Blogs > Seen and Overheard > Archives > 2009 > October > 21 > Entry
Wright State grad wins $250,000, proves she is ” Smarter than a 5th grader”
In a show that aired Monday, Oct. 19, former Beavercreek resident Elizabeth Miller-Deister proved she is smarter than a 5th grader.
The 29-year-old Wright State University graduate became the first person to win the top prize - $250,000 - on the syndicated version of “Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?”
The pregnant stay-at-home mom correctly answered ‘Haiti’ to the following World History bonus question on the game show hosted by Jeff Foxworthy :
Q: In 1804, an army composed primarily of former slaves defeated their colonial masters to form what modern Caribbean country? question:
See a clip of Miller-Deister’s victory here.
Miller-Deister and her husband Jesse, a Wright State grad raised partly in Beavercreek, moved from Beavercreek about a year ago. Several Dayton area people attended the show’s taping.
The Deisters said there has been nothing but excitement since the show aired.
The couple was featured on an LA FOX station and in a front page article in the Los Angeles Daily News.
They were also interviewed by “Inside Edition.”
Miller Deister said the show was tougher than it looked.
“I really thought about the questions for a long time,” she said. “They cut out a lot of my reasoning.”
Jesse Deister didn’t know the show’s outcome until after watching it. He said he didn’t want to know and his wife wasn’t suppose to say.
“I wanted to build that suspense… We just made rules not to talk about,” he said. “The only thing I really cared about was if is she had a good time.”
Deister, the son of Dr. Chris and Jan Deister of Beavercreek, said that he was stumped by many of the questions his wife correctly answered.
“She just keep coming up with answers,” the medical sales worker said. “I feel blessed to have the opportunity and even more blessed to have a wife smart enough to capitalize on that opportunity. ”
The couple said they are not sure yet what to do with the winnings. In an effort to ‘pay it forward,’ they will donate or gift a portion of the money.
“We will probably do something boring like invest it,” Jesse Deister said. “It’s not a very fun answer, it not a very Hollywood answer.”
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Permalink | Comments (15) | Post your comment | Categories: People you know
Comments
By Grammarian
October 21, 2009 1:22 PM | Link to this
Good lord. Didn’t anyone proofread this grammar monstrosity before publishing it?
By smarter than DDN editor....
October 21, 2009 1:30 PM | Link to this
I’m glad I wasn’t the only one who noticed all the grammatical errors and misspelling in this article. It would make sense to proof-read an article pertaining to being knowledgeable.
By Shaking My Head
October 21, 2009 1:39 PM | Link to this
How would you feel if you had to pay for a paper copy of this? No wonder people are dropping their subscriptions!
By Tom
October 21, 2009 1:47 PM | Link to this
I am surprised a 5th grader lost to WSU grad. WSU grads are just slightly smarter than a chimp.
By WORST PAPER IN AMERICA
October 21, 2009 1:54 PM | Link to this
DDN is the worst newspaper in America. It is an abomination. It doesn’t shock me as this article is far closer to news than the general puppy/kitten pictures DDN usually leads with.
By Fred
October 21, 2009 2:12 PM | Link to this
You people are pretty critical, considering the article has one small typo (a “d” added to the end of “gratuate”). The rest of the article looks fine to me.
By Fred
October 21, 2009 2:16 PM | Link to this
Oops - make that “graduate.” Just made a typo myself!
By Gina
October 21, 2009 2:43 PM | Link to this
“they will donated or gifted a portion of the money.” is also pretty glaring. I agree though, no need to by hyper critical, just tell the writer and make sure it gets corrected.
By Mike
October 21, 2009 2:44 PM | Link to this
Actually isn’t the object of the show to get 1 million dollars. So really she isn’t smarter than a fifth grader, since she only won 250,000. Not that I wouldn’t take it and run, but she still had to say on national tv, that she wasn’t smarter than a fifth grader. Headline needed to be something different.
By obama_sucks
October 21, 2009 2:56 PM | Link to this
Whats wrong Tom, Wright State turn down your application for being an idiot? Your a dumb *ss.
By Mike is wrong
October 21, 2009 2:58 PM | Link to this
It is the syndicated version of the story jerk. Why don’t you stop trying to pick people apart and calm yourself. the rest of you should find lives or hobbies.
By Sad for Dayton
October 21, 2009 3:06 PM | Link to this
Why are you people so angry and bitter? You make Dayton seem like such a hateful place. Why are you so outraged? Did someone not get a nap today?
By creed
October 21, 2009 3:09 PM | Link to this
Good one Tom. Now logoff the library computer, get on your bike, and go home before your mom starts to worry.
By qq
October 21, 2009 3:46 PM | Link to this
First, the DDN often has typos, I just deal with it. Second, I graduated with 3 degrees from WSU and also work there. I’m doing pretty good Tom.
By Tim
October 21, 2009 4:56 PM | Link to this
I believe $250,000 is all you can win in the syndicated version. Which is still a heck of a pay day in my book!