Ron Clark is first and foremost a noted educator. He has written best-selling books. He has his own private middle school academy in southeast Atlanta where most of the students pay no tuition or just a small fraction with corporate and private donations filling the gaps. Thousands of teachers from around the world come to learn his methods every year.
But he is also a “Survivor” fanatic. He finished eighth place in 2019 during season 38. And since then, he has been hosting special “Survivor” viewing parties at Ron Clark Academy.
This past Wednesday, about 500 “Survivor” fans joined more than a dozen “Survivor” alums and a majority of the cast members from the current season for a massive shindig featuring a viewing party in his school’s auditorium of the most recent episode, a DJ and a gymnasium full of “Survivor”-themed challenges.
“I adore the show and I am so grateful that I got to be part of it,” Clark said. “I see the event as a way to give back to the greater ‘Survivor’ community.”
He said “Survivor” fans and alum funded the party, which was free for anyone who showed up. His academy, which resembles Clark’s vision of Hogwarts, had nothing to do with the party. He just used his school as the venue.
During the live screening, Lauren Ashley-Beck from season 39 with 400,000 TikTok followers hosted, interviewing current players about what had just happened on the show. Frannie Marin, who won immunity this episode, excitedly took the mic to explain her strategy as fans whooped and cheered. Moments after the episode ended Wednesday, the eliminated Matt Blankinship (who is now dating Marin) stood up and hugged Jamil “Yam Yam” Arocho, a contestant who just barely survived the tribal council vote.
Credit: RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com
Credit: RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com
Two Atlanta-based “Survivor” contestants from the current season made it to the party: 34-year-old surgical podiatrist Josh Wilder, who was eliminated on the April 6 episode, and 21-year-old Georgia Tech student Carson Garrett, who remains in the current top 10 and has positioned himself quite well during the first half of the show.
The party caterer created signature cocktails such as “Crush on Carson” which featured whipped cream vodka, orange juice, orange soda, grenadine, whipping cream and an orange slice. And there were cookies with each of the contestants’ faces on them.
Credit: RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com
Credit: RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com
Credit: RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com
Credit: RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com
The “Survivor” castmates, who largely flew into Atlanta on their own dime, mingled with super fans, taking copious selfies and posed pictures. A select few acolytes got to play “Survivor” puzzles in teams with contestants like Yam Yam and Carson. The team led by Carson, who spent months building and learning “Survivor” puzzles via a 3D printer before going to Fiji last year, won, which surprised nobody.
Credit: RODNE Y
Credit: RODNE Y
Credit: RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com
Credit: RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com
Credit: RODNEY HO/
Credit: RODNEY HO/
Atlanta contestants from past seasons Davie Rickenbacker (season 37) and Teresa “T-Bird” Cooper (season 3) mingled with the crowd as well. Cooper ran into fans who weren’t even alive when she competed. And effusive season 42 winner Maryanne Oketch flew in from Canada to join in on the fun.
Rickenbacker said this season has been solid so far. “I love the cast,” he said. “I hate that so many women were voted out early. I’m rooting for Carson. He is in my ‘Survivor’ pool.”
Credit: RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com
Credit: RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com
Credit: RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com
Credit: RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com
Clark also has a permanent room at the academy set aside for his season, with photos and memorabilia.
Credit: RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com
Credit: RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com
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