They endured the elements, were stretched to their physical limits and formed cutthroat alliances.
The contestants slept in cramped spaces - and some went nearly a week without a shower or change of clothes.
Their determination was often awe-inspiring, and the competition came down to three fearless competitors spending a grueling two-and-a-half hours standing on a stack of textbooks.
It was all part of the Tuition Mission: School Bus Survivor competition on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's campus last week.
Early last Monday morning, 27 eager college students climbed aboard a yellow school bus and began a week of mental and physical competition.
The prize? Free books and tuition for a year, sponsored by KFRX and the University Bookstore.
The final showdown, which began at 10:53 Saturday morning, featured three contest finalists: James Bowers, a freshman general studies major; Joy Boardman, a senior textiles, clothing and design major; and the eventual winner, Andrew Steadman, a freshman mathematics major.
For the final challenge, contestants stood on a pile of textbooks with their hands against the school bus, their former weeklong home. They had to keep both feet in contact with the books at all times and their hands in contact with the bus.
The bar was raised twice later in the competition, requiring the competitors to stand on one leg and later to use only one hand to balance themselves against the bus.
Lincoln native Michelle Hallman turned out to watch the final showdown.
Although Hallman didn't know any of the competitors, she quickly became hooked on the competition, spending each night, from 6 p.m. until midnight watching the competition unfold.
"I heard about it on the radio and decided to come on down," Hallman said. "My daughter and I are just hooked.
"I'm missing overtime. I'm missing $15 an hour to be here."
Throughout the competition the finalists were given "bait prizes" to entice them to step down from their book pedestals.
The contestants passed up the first two prizes, free books for a year and a free laptop.
But Bowers opted to take the third bait prize - which was a combination of the first prizes - to escape the remainder of the challenge.
"Even if I didn't win anything it was totally worth it," Bowers said in an interview with KFRX.
Bowers admitted the contest wasn't all just fun and games.
"I kinda wanted to shoot myself in the head sometimes," he said. "Every time someone got voted off, I got a little jealous."
The contest ended at 1:22 p.m. on Saturday when Boardman's lifted foot touched her stack of books - a move expressly forbidden by the game's rules.
Although all the contestants admitted that backstabbing and lying occurred, they all raved about the friendships they made and the bonds they created.
Contest winner Steadman said the competition was exciting but eventually wore him down.
"It's very stressful," he said. "I'm glad it's over, honestly."
Steadman said he was exhausted after the competition, but rest doesn't come easy, even for the winner of the Tuition Mission.
"I'd like to get some rest," he said, "but I get to go home, get my stuff and move into the dorms tonight."
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