Survivor cast members visit EMS students

Several Survivor legends and recent cast members visited El Dorado Middle School on Sept. 24, 2025, for a special Q&A with students: David Kinne (Season 48), Jesse Lopez (Season 43), Jake Latimer (Season 49) current season, Rupert Boneham (Seasons 7, 8, 20 & 27), and Rome Conney (Season 47). A huge thank you to Colleen Green for arranging this unforgettable experience.

In the video clip from the assembly, you’ll see students asking some amazing questions about life, competition, and survival. One student asked, “Was it ever scary—did you ever think something bad was going to happen?” and another wanted to know, “How intense was it to compete in challenges?” We also heard thoughtful questions like, “Was it hard to readjust to 'real life' after the show?”, “What strategies did you use to get through each level?” And yes, even “How do you go to the bathroom on Survivor?"

To make things even more exciting, El Dorado Middle School is running its very own version of Survivor this school year! Students are competing in both athletic and academic challenges inside the gym, while their classmates cheer them on by streaming the event live through the EMS YouTube channel right from their classrooms. Just like the real show, it’s all about teamwork, strategy, and PRIDE.

It was inspiring to hear the cast share honest, personal answers—stories of perseverance, pressure, and what it’s really like to be out there. Whether students asked about physical challenges, mental toughness, or how they coped with reentering daily life after filming, the insights were powerful and engaging.

Thank you again to David, Jesse, Jake, Rupert, Rome, and Colleen for making this day so special. Our students will remember this for a long time!