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AS THE YEAR ENDS - <IT'S CALLED DUCK DUCK JEEP.> WE'RE ON THE GO. QUACKING UP STRANGERS-- <THIS ONE'S EVEN A SQUEAKY ONE.> DURING LIFE'S TOUGHEST CHAPTER, MARCHING TO A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BEAT-- <"THIS IS MY FIRST DOG IN A MARCHING BAND" LAUGHS> RUNNING TWO THOUSAND MILES-- <HA! I'M A LITTLE STIFF!> JUST TO HELP YOUR NEIGHBORS. <YOU STRUGGLE. AND YOU HAVE TO GET BY SOMEHOW.> AND REVERSING WHAT LIFE'S DEALT IN THE PAST. <I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU GUYS.> LET'S GO. THIS IS IOWA. AS ONE YEAR ENDS AND ANOTHER BEGINS, IOWANS ARE ON THE GO - WITH RESOLUTIONS, RESTARTS AND NEXT CHAPTERS. INCLUDING AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIMPLY SOAK IN ONE MORE BEAUTIFUL DAY. WHEN THE CALENDAR INCHES CLOSER TO ITS END-- <PRETTY MORNING OUT NOW. VERY PRETTY.> FALL LOVERS WANT JUST ONE MORE GLIMPSE BEFORE WINTER. <THOSE TREES ARE PRETTY OVER THERE. YES THEY ARE.> IN THAT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, CATHIE MARSHALL'S EYES ARE PEELED. <BALD EAGLE RIGHT IN THAT TREE. SEE HIM?> FOCUSED ON BIRDS. <HE'S PRETTY.> BUT CATHIE'S NOT DRIVING AROUND SAYLORVILLE LAKE FOR EAGLES. IT'S THE DUCKS. <IT'S CALLED DUCK DUCK JEEP.> DURING THE PANDEMIC, JEEP OWNERS ARMED THEMESELVES WITH RUBBER DUCKIES. <OH YEAH. I GOT A BAG IN THE JEEP RIGHT NOW.> SPOT A WRANGLER OR A RENEGADE AND LEAVE A LITTLE LOVE QUACK ON THEIR DOOR HANDLE. <I DON'T KNOW, TO HIGHLIGHT THEIR DAY OR ALSO TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY REALLY LIKE THEIR JEEP.> JEEP OWNERS WILL TELL YOU THERE'S POWER IN THAT RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS. <IF YOU'RE HAVING A ROUGH DAY OR SOMETHING, YOU COME OUT AND THERE'S A DUCK ON YOUR JEEP. KIND OF MAKES YOU SMILE.> IT'S JUST PART OF JEEP CULTURE. BUT THAT WOMAN IN THE FRONT SEAT? <I'VE NEVER RIDDEN IN ONE, I'VE NEVER DRIVEN ONE.> ACTUALLY STARTED HER DAY IN A CHEVY, CARRYING A HEAVY LOAD. <I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO.> IT ONLY TOOK TEN WEEKS TO LAND IN HOSPICE. <AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE SOMETHING KIND OF LIKE MAKE A WISH DO YOU HAVE A BUCKET LIST. AND I SAID NOT REALLY. BUT I DO LIKE JEEPS AND DUCKS. (46) AND THEY'RE LIKE, 'WE CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN!'> SO WITH HER LONGTIME PARTNER GREG BY HER SIDE-- <OOOO!> ONE OF THE COOLEST JEEPS IN CENTRAL IOWA PULLED UP-- <CLAPPING WHILE DRIVING UP.> THE HYDRAULICS DROPPED-- <OH! HE'S LOWERING IT EVEN. (BIG SMILE)> AND THE WOMAN WHO ONCE OWNED A SUZUKI BUT ALWAYS DREAMED OF A JEEP ACTUALLY GOT TO CLIMB IN TO HER FIRST. <THIS IS FANCY. VERY FANCY.> <DASHCAM GOPRO - 10206 - 6.18 BACKSEAT GOPRO - 10895 - 0.03 AUDIO CLIP - 0405 - 0.32> WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS - GO SPREAD JOY. <LET'S TRY NOT TO ROLL IT, OK?> WITH A FULL TANK AND A BAG FULL OF DUCKS, CATHIE'S ROAD TRIP BEGAN. <CAN WE THROW THE DUCKS AT PEOPLE? IF THEY HAVE AN OPEN WINDOW, JUST POP ONE IN THERE, RIGHT?> CRUISE UP TO SAYLORVILLE AND YOU'D THINK YOU'D SEE JEEPS ALL OVER THE PLACE. <(SIGHING) NO JEEPS TO DUCK. NO.> BUT CATHIE WAS SHUT OUT. UNTIL - AT THE CORNER IN POLK CITY? <TO THE LEFT? OH, I SEE IT!> SHE SPOTTED HER FIRST AT FAREWAY, REACHED INTO HER BAG OF QUACKERS-- <AN ORANGE ONE.> AND REALIZED, EVEN THIS TOOK MORE ENERGY THAN SHE WAS USED TO. <WANT ME TO DUCK HIM FOR YOU, SWEETIE? YEAH, IT'S EASIER FOR YOU.> IN THIRTY SECONDS, CATHIE'S JEEP SNUCK UP TO A GREY WRANGLER, GREG BALANCED HER ORANGE DUCK ON THE HANDLE AND THEY TOOK OFF, HUNTING FOR MORE ACROSS THE MILE LONG BRIDGE. <THERE ARE WHITE SEAGULLS OUT THERE.> MINUTES LATER? <THERE'S ONE OVER THERE. WHERE? IN THE BACK OF KWIK STAR.> THEY SPOTTED A SECOND. <WE BETTER GO BACK AND GET IT THEN. GOT IT.> PULLING A U-EE, PICKING OUT A NOISY ONE-- <GRIMES GIGGLE BEFORE DUCK. SQUEAK. THIS ONE'S EVEN A SQUEAKY ONE.> AND SNEAKING UP-- <GOOD GUY GIGGLE.> LIKE KIDS MAKING MISCHIEF. <CATHIE QUIETLY - YAY!> COMPLETELY FORGETTING THE WEIGHT OF THE LAST 100 DAYS. <GOOD EYE, CATH. THANKS.> BECAUSE THE LAST THREE MONTHS? <I'M GETTING WEAKER.> HAVE BEEN TOUGH. <BECAUSE I HAVE A MASS, KIND OF LIKE IN MY LIVER, SMALL INTESTINE AND STOMACH. SO IT BLOCKS FOOD GOING THROUGH SO I CAN ONLY BE ON LIQUIDS. AND I'VE LOST A LOT OF WEIGHT.> WHICH IS WHY TRIPS OUT OF THE HOUSE LIKE THIS RARE. <I'M NOT STRONG ENOUGH FOR SURGERY OR CHEMOTHERAPY. SO WE'VE MADE THE DECISION TO JUST LIVE ONE DAY AT A TIME.> AND JOY LIKE THIS-- <ANOTHER GUY GIGGLE.> PRECIOUS. <IT'S BEEN VERY TOUGH.> <I DON'T HAVE ANY CHILDREN. IT'S JUST ME AND HIM.> <SHE SHE DIDN'T HAVE A BUCKET LIST. SHE. WE COULD HAVE LIVED A LOT OF PLACES OR, YOU KNOW, AND I'VE OFFERED, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING SHE WANTS TO DO AND, BUT THIS ONE TRIPPED HER TRIGGER. SHE WAS READY TO DO IT.> TO SPOT A PINK JEEP IN A HYVEE PARKING LOT-- <SQUEAK. THIS ONE SQUEAKS TOO. LAUGH. PINK ONE FOR A PINK JEEP? UH-HUH.> AND SPREAD MATCHING JOY. <THEY COME OUT AND THEY SEE A DUCK ON THEIR JEEP AND IT MIGHT BRIGHTEN THEIR DAY.> WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED-- <(COLOR CODED) LAUGH. I'M IMPRESSED TOO.> DEBBIE CORNISH WRAPPED UP HER SHOPPING AND SPOTTED THE COLOR COORDINATED GIFT. <I GET A CHUCKLE TO MYSELF AND I LAUGH AND IT JUST WARMS MY HEART AND MAKES MY DAY ACTUALLY.> AND THEN LEARNED THE STORY OF THE HOSPICE PATIENT WHO LEFT IT. <I SO APPRECIATE IT AND I KNOW THE STRUGGLE YOU'RE GOING THROUGH. MY MOM HAD FOUR DIFFERENT CANCERS AND I GET IT. AND GOD BLESS YOU. AND GOD SPEED.> NO ONE KNOWS HOW MANY DAYS WE'LL BE GIVEN. <I TRY NOT TO GET DOWN. I MEAN OBVIOUSLY IT'S IN THE BACK OF MY MIND. BUT I TRY NOT TO LET IT GET ME DOWN.> <IT'S JUST PART OF THE PROCESS.> BUT CATHIE WAS DETERMINED TO MAKE SOME OF HER LAST COUNT. (pain) <BECAUSE I KNOW IT WILL BE COMING.> SOAKING IN THE END OF THIS SEASON, DUCKING JEEPS. <AND IT'S BROUGHT LIFE BACK TO HER.> STILL TO COME, A JOURNEY FROM HOMELESSNESS TO COACHING - ON THE MAT AND IN LIFE. <> LIFE'S NEXT CHAPTER AFTER THE FUTURE WAS NOT SO OBVIOUS. PLUS, THE UNPLANNED HALFTIME RUN TO THE SIDELINES - BECAUSE UNI'S FOUR-LEGGED MARCHING BAND MEMBER MADE IT CLEAR, IT'S TIME TO GO. BUT FIRST, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH JOHNSTON'S MAYOR SINCE LAST WINTER. <"THIS IS THE BEST TIME OF THE YEAR TO RUN.> FROM SPRING TO SUMMER AND FALL, TAG ALONG WITH ALYX SACKS FOR THE 2- THOUSAND MILE JOURNEY TO HELP HER NEIGHBORS. THIS IS IOWA. Nearly a year's worth of consistency. All comes down to this. The quiet calm of a morning at home... Paula Dierenfeld, knows the drill. She grabs her running shoes... Puts her hair up into a poneytail And adds a layer... Gearing up for the biggest mile of her life. 10:08:45 - 10:09:11 PAULA SOT: "WE'RE FINISHING UP THE MAYOR'S RUN FOR FOOD 2024. WE'VE GOTTEN TO 2,382. WE'RE GOING TO FINISH 2,383 TODAY, AND THEN WE'RE DONE." Since January 1st, Paula has been running 6 to 8 miles - EVERY - DAY. 1:51:58 - running 6 to 8 miles - EVERY - DAY. 1:51:58 - (FALL) PAULA: "IT REALLY IS A MENTAL THING. An endurance test we've followed all year. 1:51:58 - (CONTINUED FROM ABOVE) "I KNOW WHAT THE BIG GOAL IS, AND I BREAK IT DOWN INTO SMALLER GOALS." Why would anyone want to run more than 2,000 miles? Go back 10 years. And a few hair styles. To an elected official, with a different kind of campaign promise. 13:16:47 - 13:16:56 (WINTER) PAULA: "FOR EVERY $10 OR BAG OF GROCERIES THAT ARE CONTRIBUTED TO THE JOHNSON FOOD PANTRY IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, I WILL RUN ONE MILE BEGINNING NEW YEAR'S EVE DAY." Now, she admits... 13:16:57 - 13:17:18:08 (WINTER) PAULA: WHEN I FIRST PROPOSED THAT IDEA, I THOUGHT, THIS IS A SILLY LITTLE IDEA, BUT LET'S SEE IF IT WORKS. And boy did it. The Mayor's Run for Food took off... 13:16:57 - 13:17:18:08 (WINTER) PAULA: THE FIRST YEAR WAS 31 BAGS, YOU KNOW, VERY SMALL RESPONSE. THE NEXT YEAR WE WERE OVER 100. THE NEXT YEAR IT WAS OVER, YOU KNOW, 200." The community kept stepping up. Raising more than $78,000... At a time the need increased too. Most noticeably... the last two years. - 10;04;38;24 COOK: "AND IT'S NOT UNCOMMON DURING OUR BUSY TIMES OF THE MONTH, BEGINNING AND END OF THE MONTH, THAT WE CAN HAVE 40 FAMILIES IN LINE BEFORE WE OPEN THE DOOR IN THE MORNING." Johnston Partnership director Andrea (Ann-dray- uh) Cook says the last few months of the year are typically the most difficult for families. 10;05;34;01 - 10;05;54;14 COOK: "WHEN KIDS GO BACK TO SCHOOL, MONEY IS FLYING OUT THE DOOR. YOU'RE WRITING CHECKS FOR EVERYTHING. CHRISTMAS TIME, GIFT GIVING, ALL THAT SORT OF THING. SO IT'S WHEN PEOPLE FIND THEMSELVES REALLY STRAPPED." Each week, food comes in by the truck load. 9,000 lbs a food a month... became 9,000 lbs a week. 10:21:30 GINGER: "IT KINDA GETS DIFFICULT WHEN YOU'RE ONLY ON ONE PAYCHECK." Ginger Reubin has lived in Johnston for 20 years. She was a hairdresser - until an unexpected illness stopped her from working. Low on food and essentials... She searched for help. 10;27;59;25 - 10;28;25;22 GINGER: "I JUST LOVE THE FACT THAT WHEN I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS PLACE. THAT THIS WAS ONE THING I DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT." Ginger also helps take care of her elderly mom. So she thoughtfully goes through the shelves. Grabbing food with intention. (mom would like this NATS) Filling her cart... Appreciative of where the food came from. 10;27;59;25 - 10;28;25;22 CONT'D: "THEY BRING THEIR DONATIONS TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE. IT'S IT'S JUST A COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER. AND I REALLY LIKE THAT." It's stories like Ginger's that keep Mayor Paula moving. Even through her own hardships. 01;53;01;20 - 01;53;20;21 (FALL) PAULA: "I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH ATRIAL FIBRILLATION, DURING, DURING COVID. AND, YOU KNOW, I'M ON SOME MEDICATION THAT THAT MAKES IT HARDER FOR ME, FOR, FOR ME TO RUN." But it's not enough to stop Paula. She turned 70 this year and has lead Johnston through some big growth. All while quietly behind the scenes... She's kept running. Running before meetings. After meetings Even twice a day. All to get it done. 808ó0148 1;59:13 - 1:59:18 NATS: CAR DOOR OPENS (FALL) PAULA: "I RUN SO MUCH, THAT I WEAR OUT MY SHOES AND ALWAYS HAVE AN EXTRA PAIR WITH ME." From snow and bitter cold of February. 13:13:58:15 - 13:14:22 Alyx: "How many miles are you at as of today?" Paula: "I'm at 416." Alyx: "How does that feel?" Paula: "Well, I'm a little stiff (laughs)." To blue skies and blooms in June. 13;19;29;09 - 13;19;33;12 (SPRING) PAULA: "ISN'T IT BEAUTIFUL OUT HERE? I MEAN, THAT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS IN JOHNSTON, IOWA." 13;20;27;15 - 13;20;42;22 (SPRING) PAULA: "THIS IS THE BEST TIME OF THE YEAR TO RUN. She even took her miles on the road this summer for 13.1 in Nashville... 13:20:20 - 13:20:28 WINTER PAULA: "AND I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, IF YOU RUN A MARATHON, YOU'LL NEVER FEEL CLOSER TO GOD. YOU'RE CALLING HIS NAME EVERY STEP OF THE WAY." NATS By fall - she found herself in the final stretch - up against the golden rows of corn at harvest time. Until her last crisp, sunshine filled morning in the middle of November. Taking off from Terra Park... One - more - mile. NATS The perfect place to end - back to where it all started. The Johnston food pantry. HIDY0085 0:00 - 00:10 ALYX: "YOU DID IT. HOW DOES IT FEEL?" PAULA: "IT FEELS. IT FEELS GREAT. IT FEELS GOOD TO HAVE IT ALL DONE." 2,383 miles. No crowds or medals. Just the satisfaction her pledge has been filled once again. 01:53:27 - 01:53:32 (FALL) PAULA: "WE CAN MEET ANY CHALLENGE IF WE JUST SET OUR SET OUR OUR MIND AND OUR HEARTS TO IT." Because the need doesn't stop. And neither does Johnston's mayor. AND THE MAYOR TELLS ALYX NEXT YEAR'S GOAL IS EVEN HIGHER - 2500 MILES. NEXT, BEAU BOWMAN'S READY FOR KICKOFF. BUT THAT PERCUSSIONIST NEEDED A TEAMMATE - IN SCHOOL COLORS. <1193 GABI RIESSEN 26:35-38"I HAVE A REALLY IMPORTANT QUESTION: WHAT'S WINNIE GOING TO WEAR?"> STRIKE UP THE BAND. WE'RE KEEPING UP WITH THE MARCHING RETRIEVER, NEXT. THIS IS IOWA. UNI MARCHING DOG PKG <DOOR OPENS NAT> Walking to class in the cold is a rite of passage for any underclassmen. <NAT OF WINNIE WALKING> But for this four- legged sophomore... <NAT OF WINNIE WALKING> It's her favorite part of the day. Gabi Riessen has become a bit of a local legend at Northern Iowa... in part because of the big K9 on Campus-- Winnie. <1123 GABI 15:11- 14"IT'S FUN TO WALK TO CLASS, AND PEOPLE WILL BE LIKE OH HI WINNIE."> Her service dog goes with Gabi to every Panther football game. <1193 GABI RIESSEN 28:53-55"WINNIE IS FAMOUS, I JUST HOLD THE OTHER END OF THE LEASH."> In her senior year of high school, Gabi was diagnosed with POTS syndrome-- a condition where the heart rate rapidly increases when sitting up or standing which can cause dizziness and in Gabi's case.. sudden fainting. <1193 GABI RIESSEN 27:05-09"I DON'T GET ANY WARNING, SO I CAN HURT MYSELF, AND SO IT'S HARD TO LIVE THAT EVERYDAY LIFE."> But Winnie is her watch dog-- <1193 GABI RIESSEN 35:58-02"IF IT'S MY HEART RATE, SHE'LL TYPICALLY JUMP UP AND BE LIKE HEY SIT DOWN."> trained to actually SMELL when Gabi's heart rate gets too high. As a freshman attending a different- -out of state-- university... Gabi was told she wouldn't be able to continue her passion-- <1193 GABI RIESSEN 24:48-53"THEY KIND OF ASKED ME NOT TO DO ANY KIND OF BAND, NOT TO DO THEATER BECAUSE WINNIE WAS THE PROBLEM."> That's why the duo started sniffing around Cedar Falls.. <NAT OF BAND DIRECTOR CONDUCTING FROM THE STANDS> to see if UNI could make it work. <ANOTHER NAT OF BAND DIRECTOR CONDUCTING FROM THE STANDS> <1192 JUSTIN MERTZ 3:10-13 "I WAS TRYING TO IMAGINE WHY THAT WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE."> Director Justin Mertz didn't hesitate. <1192 JUSTIN MERTZ 5:45-48"THIS IS MY FIRST DOG IN A MARCHING BAND" LAUGHS> <1193 GABI RIESSEN 26:35-38"BUT HE GOES, I HAVE A REALLY IMPORTANT QUESTION: WHAT'S WINNIE GOING TO WEAR?"> <BAND NAT SHOWING WINNIE IN FULL COSTUME> The answer to that was easy-- <NAT?> She dons the same aussie hat as everyone else-- plus a bandana to protect her ears from the noise. <PREGAME MARCHING NAT> So now every home game at the UNI- Dome-- Gabi AND Winnie take the field with the drumline. <NAT FROM CLIP 1230 AROUND 3:10> <1193 GABI RIESSEN 26:18-21"WINNIE IS NOT A SPATIALLY AWARE DOG NORMALLY."> <1193 GABI RIESSEN 26:23-28"BUT AS SOON AS WE GOT ON THE FIELD, IT WAS LIKE SHE WAS A PAST MARCHER IN LIKE A PAST LIFE."> The moments when Winnie is needed most are unpredictable-- but Gabi had never passed out during a game... <STAR SPANGLED BANNER NAT> But toward the end of the national anthem... you can see Winnie start to get just a little anxious... A warning sign for Gabi. <1227 58:47- CAN WE PUT A HIGHLIGHT ON WINNIE OR ZOOM INTO HER? LET IT PLAY OUT FOR HOWEVER LONG FEELS RIGHT> She runs off FEELS RIGHT> She runs off because Winnie knows what is about to happen. <1193 GABI RIESSEN 27:14-19"SHE WARNS ME IF MY HEART RATE IS TOO HIGH SO I CAN SIT DOWN, SHE'LL WARN ME IF I'M GOING TO PASS OUT."> After these situations-- Gabi says most of the time she only needs a few minutes to recover. <NAT FROM A CLIP OF HER WALKING INTO THE STANDS> And decides to stick it out. <NAT OF HER PLAYING THE CYMBALS IN THE STANDS> Gabi and Winnie have had their share of notoriety-- appearing in national publications like People Magazine and Good Morning America. But the musicians continue to share their story-- not for the fame-- but to spread hope for anyone going through something similar. <1193 GABI RIESSEN 32:16-26"I HOPE TO GIVE THEM THE CONFIDENCE THAT EVEN THOUGH YOU LIVE WITH THIS DISABILITY THAT WON'T GO AWAY FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, YOU CAN DO THINGS. "> <1193 GABI RIESSEN 32:31-33"WHOEVER THEY ARE, I HOPE THEY'RE HAVING AS MUCH FUN AS I AM."> Being such a good dog can be tiring work-- even for a 2 year old Golden Retriever. <NAT OF WINNIE SLEEPING IN CLIP 1243> But the long days are filled with water breaks, belly rubs, and lots of walks. <WINNIE MARCHING NAT> What more could you ask for? <1193 GABI RIESSEN 31:05-08"I WON'T TAKE IT EVER FOR GRANTED LIKE THIS EXPERIENCE, I'M GRATEFUL FOR IT."> <1193 GABI RIESSEN 31:49-51"I FEEL SO LOVED HERE. I FEEL AT HOME."> THAT WAS BEAU BOWMAN. FROM AN UNLIKELY MARCHER ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD - TO AN OVERCOMER ON THE WRESTLING MAT. SCOTT REISTER SHOWS US HOW AN ATHLETE WHO GREW UP HOMELESS TURNED HIS LIFE AROUND - AND NOW IS FOCUSED ON THE SAME MISSION FOR MORE IOWA KIDS. THIS IS IOWA. JAIME MIRANDA'S CHILDHOOD WAS HEARTBREAKING Jaime: homeless on and off. in and out of friends houses. lived in moms little geo red car. HIS DAD ABANDONED THE FAMILY. THEY FOUND A PLACE TO LIVE- IT BURNED DOWN. 45:10 really hard. slept in bus stations at night. on benches. mom stayed up checking on us OVER AND OVER, LIFE DEALT YOUNG JAIME ONE CRUSHING BLOW AFTER ANOTHER. Jaime: "I spent most of my life being an angry bitter person." OVER AND OVER, JAIME FOUND PEOPLE TO HELP HIM BACK ON HIS FEET. (mom pic) WHEN HE TRAGICALLY LOST HIS MOTHER TO BREAST CANCER,HE MADE A PROMISE TO HER- AND KEPT IT. I want my mom to be proud of me (do we need this?) HE TURNED ANGER INTO MOTIVATION, DOING HIS SCHOOLWORK AND DEVELOPING INTO THE TOP HEAVYWEIGHT WRESTLER IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON... wrestling nats HE EARNED A SCHOLARSHIP TO CENTRAL COLLEGE IN PELLA WHEN HE ARRIVED, IT WAS HARD. MATT DIEHL WAS AN ASSISTANT FOR HEAD COACH ERIC VAN KLAY 21:00 - he tried to quit and Van Kaly wouldn't let him, he said you are part of our team and our family and w dont quit on each other. that is a big part of his stamina and his hope. he knows he has a family no matter what WITH HELP. JAIME NOT ONLY THRIVED, BUT HIS INSPIRATIONAL STORY LED TO AN INVITATION TO THE UNITED STATES CAPITAL TO SPEAK TO THE U.S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ABOUT HOMELESS YOUTH "I wanna share my story I wanna help.... HE GRADUATED IN 2017 AND... WAS JUST GETTING STARTED Eric Van Kley: It's not where you come from but what you commit hdo after that FADE OUT AND BACK IN ------ 37:00 Scott: HOW OLD ARE YOU NOW? 29 Wow you are like an old man now IT'S BEEN SEVEN YEARS- AND JAIME HAS SOMEHOW MANAGED TO BECOME EVEN MORE INSPIRING. Right after college I went to Woodward Academy as a counselor - wanted to go back to College to get my masters -needed to pay for that - ended up enlisting in the Marine corps. JAIME WAS BASED RIGHT OUTSIDE D.C. HE ALSO JOINED THE ALL-MARINE WRESTLING TEAM. 40:30 I competed in the US Open and the last chance qualifier. in 2019 i got a spot at the World Team Trials in North Carolina HE ALMOST MADE TEAM USA! 41:10 an hoor and a blessing to be able to compete with those guys HE FINISHED HIS ENLISTMENT... AND HIS MASTERS..THEN HE AND HIS WIFE EMILY MOVED BACK TO IOWA SO HE COULD BEGIN HIS DOCTORATE AT DRAKE, ALONG WITH A COACHING AND INTERVENTIONIST JOB AT MOC- FLOYD VALLEY 44:15 secondary intervention specialist. kids that have struggles academically. A lot like my personal experiences that I grew up with. That is what called me to that town and that role. God thing. REISTER STANDUP: With that incredible resume and all those connections Jaime could get a job anywhere he wanted. But THIS is the only place that truly felt like home Wrestling nATS Followed by 693 - I like that one that one looked good! THIS YEAR, JAIME RETURNED TO THE PLACE THAT CHANGED HIS LIFE. SERVING AN ASSISTANT COACH FOR THE CENTRAL MEN AND WOMEN'S WRESTLING TEAMS nats 694 - that way you are not lifting as much - do the same thing.. now you are overthinking it 51:20 - some of the greatest mentors I ever had were here...amazing to walk in and see all these great leaders. I love coaching and now I can learn from the best as wrestlers and coachES, exciting to be back. AND NOW, 689 - that's better WITH EVERY OUNCE OF ENCOURAGEMENT 695 sthats so sick IT'S JAIME'S TURN TO CHANGE LIVES. Nats- clip 730 THANK YOU FOR CALLING FEDEERAL STUDENT AID... LOTS OF THEM 731 - did you create your FASFA account yetr? HIS FULL TIME JOB IS WORKING FOR A CENTRAL COLLEGE PROGRAM CALLED UPWARD BOUND. HE GOES INTO DES MOINES HIGH SCHOOLS TO HELP KIDS... LIKE THESE AT EAST HIGH.... GET READY FOR THE SAME THING HE NEVER IMAGINED HE;D BE A PART OF - COLLEGE 733 I will be there for you guys if you bring your family JAIME 49:?? we pour into those kids. 2 days a week we go to schools. Teach them financial literacy. scholarship process. help them apply. we have done two college visits. 759 - did you apply to DMACC yet? JAIME 54:20 all working with kids similar to me. There's always one story i can relate with on them, that helps me connect. God has given me a gift to be able to connect with youth. 767- (girl) come here its your birthday! EVEN BEING PART OF AN IMPROMPTU HAPPY BIRTHDAY SONG Happy birthday to you! (save end of shot for end of story) BACHELORS. MASTERS. MARINE. DOCTORAL CANDIDATE. COACH. HUSBAND. FATHER. MENTOR. THE FORMERLY HOMELESS JAIME HAS KEPT HIS PROMISE TO HIS MOM. AND THEN SOME. DIEHL: 19:00 Very unbelievable. I would even say a miracle. Hs heart changed, his mind changed, it is really cool to see. I am elated to see him be a dad and a husband. now he is helping kids. it is amazing. i am grateful for that. I am excited for his life 47:30 SCOTT QUESTION YOU EVER THINK ABOUT HOW CLOSE YOU WERE TO NOT MAKING IT 47:33 I do. With what i do now for Upward bound for Central college and the DMPS it clicks for me every day. It really is a god thing. Evey step of the way in my life whether I was receptive or not there were multiple people there was someone there when i tired to quit they kept encouraging me to go forward NOW YOU ARE THAT PERSON - trying to be. YEAH. (end on claps from birthday song) And Scott says in 2025, Jamie and his wife are going to be on the go even more - with another child on the way. Staying