A 26-year-old elementary school teacher originally from Bayville is $1 million richer after winning the Survivor: Island of The Idols grand prize during Wednesday’s 39th season finale of the CBS reality show competition.
Tommy Sheehan, a fourth-grade teacher at Floral Park-Bellerose Union Free School, outwitted and outlasted the competition with the help of his background as a surfer and multi-sport athlete.
“I just want to give my fiancee the dream wedding she always wanted,” Sheehan, who proposed to his girlfriend after returning home, told Entertainment Tonight of his plans for the money, which includes paying off his student loans.
Sheehan, who lives in Long Beach, beat 19 other contestants to come out on top this season, which premiered in September and was filmed in Fiji.
The runner up was Dean Kowalski. Noura Salman placed third, Lauren Beck fourth, and Janet Carbin fifth.
The season proved to be a controversial one when Dan Spilo became the first contestant ever to ever to be kicked off the show for alleged inappropriate behavior.
