Stephenie LaGrossa

Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick (born December 6, 1979) is
==Early life and education==
LaGrossa was born to her father (mail employee) and mother (bank file clerk). She is the youngest sibling and has four brothers. She grew up in Glenolden, Pennsylvania, a Philadelphia suburb. She graduated from Archbishop Prendergast High School. She further attended Temple University (Philadelphia) and then transferred to Monmouth University (Long Beach, New Jersey), both of where she played lacrosse as a starter. In Monmouth, she was team captain as a senior, won multiple awards for her athleticism, and earned her bachelor's degree in business administration in 2002.
==Survivor: Palau==
LaGrossa, a 25-year-old pharmaceutical sales representative and bartender residing in Toms River, New Jersey, at the time, first appeared in Survivor: Palau (2005). To form the Ulong tribe, LaGrossa was handpicked by one of handpicked tribe members Bobby Jon Drinkard. She was considerably one of physically strongest females in Survivor up to date, but the Ulong tribe lost every tribal immunity challenge to its rival tribe, Koror. In one of tribal immunity challenges that the Ulong lost, a physical one-on-one challenge containing a platform above the water, Stephenie defeated Jenn Lyon of the Koror tribe in both of their matches together.
When Stephenie and Bobby Jon became the only remaining Ulong, the tribe lost Palaus final tribal immunity challenge, which contained a puzzle. Therefore, they both competed at a fire making challenge in the series's first ever one-on-one Tribal Council. Stephenie won the challenge against Bobby Jon, despite his impressive fire making skills, leading to his elimination.
As the last remaining Ulong, Stephenie was officially absorbed into the Koror tribe. After surviving Koror's two post-absorption Tribal Councils, Stephenie attempted to form an all-female alliance and planned to oust the remaining males. Seen as a fierce competitor, despite her first-day alliance with eventual winner Tom Westman and two other Koror members before tribe formation, Stephenie was unanimously voted out by the Koror, ending the Ulong's existence and making her the third juror of the season. Her Palau appearance made her one of audience favorites at the time.
==Survivor: Guatemala==
LaGrossa and Bobby Jon Drinkard, fan favorites who both were the last remaining Ulong members in the previous season Survivor: Palau when ten players remained, returned for Survivor: Guatemala (2005), whose other sixteen players were newcomers. Stephenie was assigned to the Yaxhá tribe; Bobby Jon, to the Nakúm tribe. Each tribe contained nine members, including one returnee.
The original Yaxhá won the season's first tribal immunity challenge but then lost two subsequent immunity challenges. Both tribes were then reshuffled: Bobby Jon was switched to the Yaxhá tribe; Stephenie, to the Nakúm tribe. The newly shuffled Nakúm tribe lost the season's first post-shuffle immunity challenge but then won a couple subsequent ones.
After both tribes officially merged into the Xhakúm tribe, The source's date "November 02, 2005" may be incorrect. The said date was one day before an episode "The Hidden Immunity Idol" originally aired. when five players remained, Stephenie won an individual immunity challenge for the first time in her Survivor career, guaranteeing her a position for the final four. After Stephenie, Rafe Judkins, and radio announcer Danni Boatwright became the remaining three players, Rafe and then Stephenie lost the final individual immunity challenge, a balance challenge containing a "wobbly platform" and a "small rope", to Danni. Seeing Stephenie dissolve into tears over the loss, Rafe heartily told Danni to no longer honor the final-two deal that they earlier made together and allowed Danni to decide for herself. As the only player eligible to vote off another player while wearing the immunity necklace, Danni voted off Rafe and took Stephenie to the finals.
Due to her more cutthroat gameplay, multiple betrayals throughout most of the season, and angering the jury, Stephenie lost the game to Danni by majority votes cast in the Final Tribal Council.
==Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains==
LaGrossa made her third Survivor appearance in Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains (2010) with Palau winner Tom Westman, both as part of the Heroes tribe. From the season's second tribal immunity challenge up to the Heroes' second Tribal Council, returnee James Clement repeatedly yelled at and scolded Stephenie. Further at the Council, James attacked her status as the last remaining Ulong in Palau. Stephenie retaliated, and Colby Donaldson and Tom Westman came to her defense. Nonetheless, by majority vote, Stephenie was ousted as the season's second boot. The source's incorrect publication date says "February 28, 2015".
==Activities outside Survivor==
In September 2006, LaGrossa became one of in-arena hosts of the Philadelphia Flyers ice hockey games. As of 2010, she is the restaurateur of GIGI Restaurant & Lounge (Old City, Philadelphia).
==Personal life==
In July 2006 in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, the same place where they first met, LaGrossa married her fiancé Michael Ward, whom she dated for eight years before their engagement on December 24, 2005 (Christmas Eve). She and Ward divorced in 2007, one year later.
One year after their engagement in 2009, on November 13, 2010, LaGrossa married Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Kyle Kendrick in Napa, California.
==Filmography==
=== Television ===
Year	Title 	Role 	Notes
2005	Survivor: Palau 	Contestant	Eliminated; 7th place
2005	Survivor: Guatemala 	Contestant	Runner-Up
2010	Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains	Contestant	Eliminated; 19th place
2022	Snake in the Grass 	Contestant	
Category:1979 births
Category:People from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Category:Monmouth University alumni
Category:Pharmaceutical industry
Category:Bartenders