From the classroom to reality TV: UWO students bring Survivor alum Andrea Boehlke to campus

What began as a classroom challenge in radio TV film (RTF) 140: Reality Check at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, turned into a real-world lesson in media literacy, collaboration and initiative when students successfully brought Andrea Boehlke, a three-time Survivor contestant and on-camera host for Discover Wisconsin, to campus.

The visit was organized and hosted by first-year public relations majors Emma Baumeister and Piper McCray, who worked alongside their classmates to connect course concepts with professional practice. Instead of taking a traditional final exam, students in RTF 140 were challenged to apply what they had learned by successfully inviting a reality TV professional to speak directly to the class.

"The goal wasn't the grade-it was the process," said Beth Hubbard, associate professor of radio, TV and film and associate school director of venues and studios. "The grade incentive wasn't a gimmick; it was an alternative way for students to demonstrate mastery of the final's learning outcomes through real-world application."

Inside RTF 140: Reality Check

In this class, students take a critical look at how unscripted television is built.

"In this first-year experience class, RTF 140 Reality Check, students aren't just 'watching Survivor,'" Hubbard said. "They analyze short clips throughout the season to understand how reality TV is constructed-how contestant archetypes are cast, how producers shape narratives, how story editors build A, B, and C plots, and how early moments are planted to pay off later."

That analysis extends beyond story structure into the mechanics of production.

"We even break down the technical side: where microphones are hidden, why contestants wear buffs (colorful fabric headwear) during challenges, how many cameras and audio crews it takes to cover a single scene," Hubbard said. "It's rigorous, intentional analysis-and a reminder that learning to critically consume media can be both serious and genuinely fun."

As the semester progressed, that close reading of reality television began to spark curiosity outside the classroom.

"After spending much of the semester analyzing scenes together, students naturally started gravitating toward certain contestants and looking them up on social media," Hubbard said.

That curiosity ultimately led to an applied challenge designed to move students from analysis to action.

"I gave the students a clear, high-stakes challenge: if they could successfully bring a reality TV professional to class, they would earn a 100% on their final," Hubbard said.

Turning theory into practice

For McCray, a public relations major from Menasha, the challenge became an opportunity to apply classroom learning in a meaningful, real-world way.

"After our teacher gave us the incentive to get a reality TV star to show up to our class, Emma and I got busy contacting as many local reality TV stars as we could," McCray said. "We looked for people in the Wisconsin area in hopes of finding someone who would be passionate about sharing their experience on TV and we would be able to connect with them through our shared roots in Wisconsin."

Reaching out required persistence and careful consideration of who might be willing to engage with students.

"We knew it was a long shot since Andrea is very busy," McCray said. "After Andrea responded to Emma, our class was very excited about the possibility of meeting her."

While McCray and Baumeister led outreach and hosted the conversation, the visit was the result of coordinated work across the entire class, with students contributing to different aspects of planning and execution.

"This event took the place of our final exam but we learned more from this then from a 50-question exam," McCray said. "The concepts that we learned directly translated to this event. We learned about communication, event planning and production in order for this event to run smoothly."

Learning from the source

When Boehlke agreed to visit the class, she said the students' outreach immediately stood out, both for its creativity and for its intention.

"I saw Emma's message and it seemed like such a fun and unique way to surprise some students!" Boehlke said. "I've always been a 'Yes' person."

She said that saying yes felt especially meaningful because she understands how impactful it can be for students to meet someone working in a field they hope to pursue.

"I also know how valuable it is to meet with someone who is in a similar field that you're pursuing," Boehlke said.

Boehlke said she saw clear parallels between her own path and where the students are now.

"I auditioned for Survivor when I was in college and a theatre/communication major-so I relate to these students when it comes to aspirations!" she said.

That sense of shared experience carried into the classroom conversation itself. Boehlke said she was especially struck by the kinds of questions students asked and the level of thought behind them.

"I loved that a lot of the questions were about the behind-the-scenes and production of Survivor," she said. "Of course I always like talking about Jeff Probst or my favorite people to play with, but I don't always get the questions about storylines, casting and the production side of things."

For McCray, the visit helped bridge the gap between what students study in class and what feels possible beyond it.

"Hearing about Andrea's experience on Survivor was eye-opening, and it made a concept that seemed out of reach from our classroom real," McCray said. "She reminded us that the people on TV are real people."

That realization carried over into a broader sense of confidence, both in what students had accomplished together and what they might pursue next.

"This event helped us know that our goals are attainable," McCray said. "We had challenges placed before us that my friends doubted were possible, and we made happen."

A lesson that lasts

For Boehlke, that sense of possibility is exactly what she hopes students take with them beyond the classroom.

"I hope they realize that you really can carve out a dream career for yourself, if you are driven and hardworking," Boehlke said. "I am not the MOST talented person in the room, but I have always applied myself and chased my dreams. So if I can do it, so can you!"

McCray said the experience underscored the value of taking initiative and stepping into opportunities when they arise.

"Even though it was nerve-racking to host, it was such a worthwhile experience," she said. "Starting this semester, we had no idea we would have the opportunity to host such a great experience that we won't forget."

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