A Family Affair

Sep2

If you watched a Nebraska football game in the 2000’s with a visiting friend or someone who doesn’t really follow the Huskers, maybe you experienced this. A HUGE sack by one of Nebraska’s Blackshirts. The QB on the opposing team loses yards. And 80,000+ Nebraska fans BOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

“Why are they booing??” your confused friend asked.

That’s when you explained that the fans weren’t booing, they were saying RUUUUUUUUUUUUUUD!!!

Yes, years before that one guy, Ndamukong Suh, made the response legendary in the NFL, two brothers from Lincoln created a legacy within Husker Nation, inciting tens of thousands to yell THEIR name after one of their hundreds of combined career tackles. Their names: Barrett and Bo Ruud.

Thanks to Nebraska Athletics for the photos!

“It started happening with my brother, then me,” Bo Ruud recently told me in an interview in Lincoln. “Like I tell Suh, he owes us some money because that’s ours, he stole it. It was copyrighted, trademarked.”

All jokes, of course. Those moments, listening to a crowd going crazy because of something he did on the field, were simply ‘an amazing experience’ according to the younger Ruud. Bo played for Nebraska from 2003-2007, racking up an impressive resume of accolades including First-Team All-Big 12, a multi-game Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week and winning the Nebraska Guy Chamberlin Trophy. Arguably his most impressive moment came against Iowa State his senior year, when Bo intercepted the ball and returned it 93-yards for a touchdown. At that time, it was the third longest in school history and the longest ever by a Husker linebacker.

Click here to watch the KETV Throwback Thursday story on Bo Ruud!

Still, it’s hard for Bo to pinpoint one standout moment in his career at Nebraska.

“It’s such a large collection of just great moments, it’s like a feeling almost,” said Bo. “Nebraska football, that was a dream growing up for me. I’m a Lincoln guy.”

Bo lived about five minutes from Memorial Stadium and was surrounded by the Nebraska Football dynasty all of his life. Great-grandfather Clarence Swanson played for Nebraska from 1918-1921. Uncles Bob Martin and John Ruud were Huskers in the 1970’s. Dad, Tom Ruud, earned All-Big Eight honors with Nebraska from 1972-1974. Combine Tom and his boys, and you’ve got three of the top 30 tacklers in Nebraska school history.

Bo, now a medical rep working in Lincoln and traveling across the state, will be keeping a close eye on the position tied so closely to his family.

“Always watching the linebackers, that’s always first,” said Bo. “You’re always watching and rooting for those guys to do well. Randy Gregory’s a standout, I think he’s going to be really good.”

Bo also calls running back Ameer Abdullah the ‘heart and soul’ of the Nebraska team.

Brother Barrett Ruud may not be able to pick any favorites on this year’s squad; he’s one of their coaches. Barrett Ruud is officially a ‘Football Intern’ as part of the Nebraska Football Support Staff.

Photos courtesy of Nebraska Athletics

“I’m excited, really excited,” said Bo, when asked about watching his brother on the sidelines. “It’s going to be different. Different for him, too, but the whole family’s excited for him.”

And no doubt his players can learn a lot from their new coach. Barrett Ruud played for Nebraska from 2001-2004; a team Captain, on the Butkus Award Watch List, and the 2004 Nebraska Defensive MVP. He was a second round NFL Draft pic, and played several years in the pros. Before Nebraska’s game against McNeese State, Barrett Ruud will officially be inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame.

***

14 years ago, these brothers were in Lincoln, playing under the Friday Night Lights for Lincoln Southeast. They dreamed of high school state championships and maybe, just maybe, playing in front of tens of thousands in the stadium they grew up hearing about. Now, they are back in Lincoln, each showing how their time as Huskers impacted their lives. Barrett Ruud, by coaching a new generation of players. Bo Ruud, by proudly wearing red every Saturday, and once in awhile offering commentary via sports talk radio with long time best friend (and Creighton Basketball legend) Nick Bahe.

With that, Bo Ruud has a message for today’s Huskers.

“Everybody’s going to tell them, but you’ve got to soak it up!” said Bo. “Every second, enjoy it. It’s the best years of your life, it really is.”

It may be awhile before Nebraska fans again here the rattling RUUUUUUD reverberating through Memorial Stadium, should the family legacy continue. Bo Ruud is grateful for the fans who remember him taking down a quarterback and making that growl happen.

“It’s an honor, if that’s the case,” said Bo. “Just continue being great fans and supporting the Huskers, because I will continue to do that, too.”

Click here to learn more about Bo Ruud, via Nebraska Athletics

Click here to learn more about Barrett Ruud, via Nebraska Athletics

***

CLICK HERE to Throwback to the Class of 2006, Zac Taylor

Next week’s Throwback Thursday Husker.. Class of 2003, Pat Ricketts

Witnessing History

Jul28

One of my favorite things about being a journalist is what we get to see, hear, WITNESS. As a student of history, this is invaluable to me. You can read about things in books, you can watch things on TV, but only a few get to be there as history happens and share those stories. Sometimes, though, as journalists we witness events so remarkable, tragic and overwhelming, the moments never really leave us. We close our eyes and can still see and feel what happened the day we covered the story.

For KETV’s Managing Editor Jim Reding, those moments happened on July 19, 1989, when United Flight 232 crashed in Sioux City, Iowa.

25 years ago this month, Jim watched with his own eyes as that plane and the hundreds of people aboard cartwheeled down the runway. His coworker captured the crash on camera, video that was later seen by millions and endlessly analyzed by aviation experts. Jim shared the stories of the survivors, the heroes, and the 112 people who died that day.

Here is Jim’s account of Flight 232.

***

Summer of ’89, Jim Reding was the 10pm producer at KTIV in Sioux City and on July 19, had just started his shift. The news broke around 2 or 2:30 of an Alert 3.

“We knew the plane had lost all hydraulics somewhere near Storm Lake, Iowa,” said Jim. “Our assignment editor at the time sent Dave Boxum, a reporter/photographer, straight to the airport. I got in a van with Cathy Egan, a reporter, and we were heading to Highway 20 east of Sioux City. We were told the plane was going to try and land on Highway 20.”

Within minutes, Jim and Cathy got word that the pilot was going to try and land at the Sioux Gateway Airport. The two took the first exit they could and headed that way.

“We spotted the plane coming over Southern Hills Mall,” said Jim. “It was flying so low, and it was so strange to see this large plane barely above the buildings and tree tops. I sped up, and got nervous that I wouldn’t get a shot of it landing. Just as we were parallel with the airport, the plane was coming right over us. I remember one of us saying, ‘God, please let the plane land safely’. As it went over our heads, it then cleared the Air National Guard building and the next thing we saw was the explosion and the plane rolling off the runway. I know we both yelled or screamed.”

Jim, knowing his coworker, Dave, was already at the airport somewhere, drove as fast as he could from where he was on I-29. He found Dave directly at the fence south of the runway where the plane had crashed.

“As I got out of the van I asked Dave if he got video of it,” said Jim. “He said, ‘I think so’.”

A still photo from Dave Boxum’s video, taken as Flight 232 crashed in Sioux City.

Jim, Dave and Cathy immediately got to work, setting up equipment on top of the van to try and see what was going on.

“There was so much debris and parts of the plane strewn all over,” said Jim. “The airport firefighters were already on the scene and more fire departments and first responders were arriving. That’s when I saw a Red Cross van driving towards the entrance and recognized the driver. I told Dave to relieve me on top of the van and I would take his camera gear and try to get access to the crash site. I distinctly remember the feeling that we wanted to have a camera rolling at all times on the scene.”

Photo by the Sioux City Journal

Jim began shooting as he got closer to the crash site, using the same camera and tape that held such an important piece of video.

“The record deck was not working properly. It was stopping and starting on its own. All sorts of lights were flashing,” said Jim. “I started to smack the camera with my hand to see if that helped. It didn’t. I tried rewinding the tape and fast forwarding the tape to see if that would make a difference and it didn’t.”

In the chaos that followed, Jim radioed KTIV to tell them what he thought he had and that he was having problems with his gear.

“All this time, I didn’t realize how close I had come to erasing or taping over Dave’s historical video,” said Jim. “Dave would tell me later that he wasn’t sure he had gotten the video because his deck was acting up. When the video got back to the station, they had to dub it over to a one-inch reel to play it. By the end of the day, the whole world would see that video. Robert Hager, reporter with NBC who covered all the big plane crashes, told me and others at the time that it was one of the most important pieces of video in aviation history. This was long before cell phone videos and Go Pros; it was so rare to capture a major crash on tape. I’m sure United and other companies learned a lot by watching that video.”

Jim spent the rest of the day and night there at the airport, shooting interviews and field producing coverage of the crash for KTIV.

Photo by the Sioux City Journal

“We weren’t used to covering a story of such magnitude, and it was a story that kept expanding,” said Jim. “The survivors, the families, the investigation, the community reaction and endless personal stories of people impacted by the crash.”

Click here to watch KTIV’s look back at Flight 232.

We know now that United Flight 232, originally scheduled from Denver to Chicago, suffered catastrophic failure of its tail-mounted engine, which led to the loss of all flight controls. 296 people were on board; 112 died. Despite such unimaginable loss, many considered it a miracle 184 people survived. Many credit the flight crew and captain Alfred Haynes, who essentially landed the plane without conventional control.

The crash changed how we fly today; DC-10’s were modified with hydraulic fuses to prevent catastrophic loss of fluid. Experts use the flight as evidence why all children should have their own seat and be properly restrained. Researchers have also studied Flight 232 to see whether computers could control aircraft using the engines alone.

It also forever touched a young journalist who would eventually make his way to Omaha, Nebraska and the news desk at KETV. In his 28 years in TV News, Jim has covered officer involved shootings, the tragedy at Westroads Mall, tornadoes and mass snowstorms, serial killers and lengthy criminal cases; you name it, Jim has played a role in 20 years of coverage at KETV. Still, he says no story has had an impact on him like Flight 232.

“The fact that I witnessed the crash and was physically on site to talk with survivors and those involved in the rescue probably has something to do with how I feel,” said Jim. “I was in the field and felt the real impact of the story. You have to remember that 112 people died! That’s the greatest loss of life in this region that I know of. You had Captain Al Haynes, who with the help of his crew, made a miraculous landing, saving 184 people. An emergency response that would be a model for the world. An NTSB investigation that would lead them to find a cause to the crash. And for the first time, video of a DC-10 crashing, that would help educate pilots and engineers in the future. And of course, you would have a movie made about it, with Hollywood legends. It was, and still is the biggest story I’ve ever covered.“

“There hasn’t been a summer I don’t think about that day and the crash of Flight 232,” said Jim. “We have family and friends that still live in that area and we drive by the Sioux City Airport on our way. I know often times my first instinct is to look west at the airport and the location where the plane crashed, but I usually find myself looking east and into the sky at that spot where I saw that plane go over my head. It was so big and still so clear to me. It’s hard not to think about all those people on that plane and how just seconds after they went past me so many lives ended and so many other lives changed. I won’t ever forget it.”

Back To School

Jul16

And with a simple phrase, ‘back to school’, I can hear thousands of screams from children (and teachers) across the Omaha metro area…

But it’s almost time, folks!! In less than a month, your kiddos will be heading out the door, ready to start a new year of learning, friends and memories.

Wait… will they truly be ready?

For thousands of kids across the metro, the answer is no. No backpack, no new school supplies, no motivation to head to a place where they feel like they aren’t good enough or as prepared as all of the other kids.

CUE: The Seven Can Help Kids Back to School Backpack Drive.

drive

This is arguably the biggest fundraising/donation event we put together every year here at KETV. We work with nonprofits, corporations and businesses, schools, and THOUSANDS of donors, to provide as many backpacks and supplies as possible for area kids who need them. This year our goal is 14,000 stuffed backpacks.

WHY???

Before I became actively involved, it’s a question, I admit, I asked; why, when we could raise money and awareness to get kids food, or shelter, or countless other causes or plights, WHY BACKPACKS?

For me, here’s the reason why.

Last night, Rob and I listened to a story from KETV’s Tony Cornett about the expected trial in the murder case of Brandon Wallace. The alleged shooter: 15 years old. His alleged accessories? 13 to 17 years old. Rob and I watched each boy’s mug shot appear on our screen, and I just shook my head. They look so young. THEY ARE so young.

What the hell happened?!?!? What happens in any case where young people, teenagers and young men and women, turn to crime and violence?

There are no easy answers, but how about DREAMING BIGGER. HAVING GOALS. MAKING PLANS. Where does that start? At home. For some, in church. AND IN SCHOOL.

Could it be that simple? Get kids pointed in the right direction EARLY. Make them EXCITED about going to school, learning, finding structure and vision for their futures.

Although it was many, MANY, MANY moons ago, I can still remember the excitement of my mom getting our school supply lists, heading to the store, and choosing all of our supplies. I’d get home, lay all of my new gear on my bed, and organize it into my new backpack. It made me so excited to go to school.

Let’s get kids excited. Let’s HELP THEM find that right track and stay on it.

Yes, money is tight, for all of us it seems. But I hope the next time you are at the store you check out the school supply bins; a quarter for a notebook. 50-cents for a brand new pack of crayons. 5-bucks goes a long way, and if a couple thousand people each chip in, IMAGINE the huge amount that adds up to.

This year, our community partners are doing even more. The Salvation Army, who has been KETV’s Backpack Drive partner for years, is again offering a text donation option; if you don’t want to hassle with buying supplies and dropping them off, you can simply text “OMAHA” to 80888 to make a $10 donation, or go online. Again, I know $10 isn’t an option for everyone, but perhaps it’s your sacrifice of your 2 weekly trips to the coffee shop, or that lunch out. What you are giving up, could mean so very much to a little boy or girl in our city.

In addition, Methodist Health Systems is offering free health screenings this year when these families pick up their backpacks. Another HUGE impact for children who may not see a doctor and get checked out otherwise. Rob and I sat down with Methodist’s Katina Gordon recently to talk about this year’s efforts. Check out her blog about it here!

KETV and the Salvation Army will be at Nebraska Crossing Outlets July 26 from 10am-4pm, and July 27 11am-4pm, collecting donations and backpacks. For every backpack or $10 donation, Nebraska Crossing Outlets will match it with a backpack of their own!

Our team will also be out at the Methodist Women’s Hospital on Friday, August 1 collecting donations. If you need any other motivation, I hear Rob is signing autographs FOR FREE that day!!!

rob

Thumbs up for Rob! He’s kind of a big deal!!

We hope to see you there BEFORE you head back to school! THANK YOU for considering this, to make a difference in the lives of kiddos in our area!

You’ll find more information, including maps where you can drop off your donations, on our website!

Kill ‘Em With Kindness

Jul16

“On Christmas night of 2009, Nebraska was in the middle of a severe snow storm. My grandpa and hero suffered his sixth heart attack.”

Imagine the terror this young woman and her family faced that night. Trapped in their homes, isolated from the help they desperately needed.

“The ambulance used chains to drive through the streets safely. Though my family and I were very anxious and scared, relief came knowing the emergency workers were moving quickly to assess the situation and stabilize him.”

Morgan Holen will never forget that night, or the sacrifice made by those emergency crews, working on Christmas and ultimately, saving her grandfather because of it.

“The following year my family started a Christmas Eve tradition in honor of these wonderful people by buying dozens of donuts and delivering them to fire stations, emergency rooms and pharmacies, thanking them for working and serving others on Christmas.”

To Morgan, this is simply a random act of kindness. Later this month, it’s a mission she will share with the country as Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teenager.

Morgan

(Thank you to photographer Jenn Cady for the photo!)

What the heck is Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen?!? Think of a younger Miss America. Teenagers from across the country compete under the same guidelines as the “Miss” contestants do, only these titleholders are 13-17 years old. (Check out my previous blog post about this year’s Miss Nebraska ‘Teen’ contestants and what the program is all about.) Morgan, who was crowned Miss Omaha’s Outstanding Teen in October, won the state title the same day as Miss Nebraska Megan Swanson.

Morgan crowned

(Photo courtesy of the Miss NE’s Outstanding Teen organization)

“Hearing my name was one of the best feelings ever,” Morgan told me recently. “It showed me that all the hours of preparing talent, checking current events, and maintaining a balanced diet and exercise was completely worth it!”

high school

The Elkhorn South student says she’s happiest when she is busy, already active in honors classes, SADD, Pep club, show choir, dance team and student council (whew!) Morgan certainly added to her workload with this new honor; she’ll head to Orlando in just weeks to compete for the title of Miss America’s Outstanding Teen (the ‘little sister’ to Miss America.)

You could say Morgan has royal blood in her veins; her mom, Jodi Miller-Holen, was Miss Nebraska 1988.

fam

Morgan is following in her mother’s footsteps in more ways than one; she is also an award-winning dancer, trained under the same woman who taught Jodi, ‘Miss Kitty’ Dahlberg. Dahlberg passed away last July after teaching thousands of Omaha dancers in a career spanning 50 years. Morgan dedicated her talent performance at Miss Nebraska’s OT, a lyrical dance to ‘You Raise Me Up’, to Miss Kitty.

Morgan competing in 2012.

Want to see more? Check out this performance by Morgan and her fellow KLD team members at the Spotlight Dance Cup in May–AMAZING!

“I have been dancing for 13 years and I have performed on many stages,” said Morgan. “I have to say I feel the most comfortable on a stage performing. I am excited to show America a talent I have been working on for so long!”

Morgan may have a few celebrity fans rooting for her as well; she’s taken classes from multiple ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ contestants and choreographers, including Stephen ‘Twitch’ Boss.

(Complete disclosure: I FREAKED OUT when Morgan sent me this!! I die!!!)

Morgan hopes to make ALL of her fans proud and says she is focusing her energy on preparation to represent Nebraska on this national stage. When Morgan wakes up August 3, she says she will continue to spread awareness of her personal platform, Random Acts of Kindness, whether it’s just in Nebraska or across the entire country as Miss America’s Outstanding Teen.

rotary

“Throughout my year of service I want to go to schools and other places to promote kindness through my actions and words,” said Morgan. “People do not always remember what you do or say, but they do remember the way you make them feel. Anyone, no matter what age, can perform a random act of kindness. It does not take a certain amount of money or time, it can easily be part of our daily life. It will be my mission to try and spread this message and encourage people to participate.”

If you’re asking WHY, Brandi, WHY are you profiling another pageant girl?!?!? Because this young lady is LEGIT–she is the epitome of who I wish more young people, scratch that, MORE PEOPLE OF ANY AGE, were like. She is smart, hard working, gifted, beautiful inside and out, and KIND. These are the people who deserve the headlines.

Following Morgan on Twitter and Facebook since she was crowned in October, I’ve never seen a mean ‘tweet’ or status update about other kids, or a questionable, immature post about herself. The pictures she shares show a young woman unafraid to try new things or to work hard to achieve what she wants. And as I wrote in this post after Miss Nebraska, Morgan truly has a gift when it comes to dance; just as she hopes to spread kindness as Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen, she transmits sheer joy every time she steps onto a stage to dance. She is the whole package.

“I want people to know how much I love the state of Nebraska and that I am beyond excited to have the opportunity to represent our state,” said Morgan.

I venture to guess the guy who inspired it all, Morgan’s grandpa, couldn’t be more proud of the young woman his granddaughter has become.

***

Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Pageant will take place in Orlando, Florida July 27-August 2.

NEW THIS YEAR: The Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Organization is pleased to announce that the 2014 Competition Finals will be broadcast LIVE for first time! For a $10 donation, you can watch as the field of 53 is narrowed to only one, MAOTeen 2015!

To follow Morgan’s journey and to learn more about the Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen program, follow on Facebook and on Twitter, or check out the program’s website. You can also follow Morgan on Instagram.

To request Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen Morgan Holen for appearances and events, contact Director Rachel Daly at racheldaly.rx@gmail.com.

Blown Away

Jun12

Yeah. Blown away. ME.

I attended the preliminary rounds of competition of the Miss Nebraska pageant last weekend. After talking to all of the contestants over the last few months to write features for this blog, I felt like I knew some of them! And those that I do know personally are incredible, OUTSTANDING young women. I wanted to see all of their hard work in person!

HOLY. CRAP.

These women are just phenomenal. Talented. Gorgeous. Intelligent. Hard working. DRIVEN. To see all of that wrapped together in one production was kind of mind-boggling. AND ABSOLUTELY INSPIRING.

For those of you who have been following my series on this year’s contestants, THANK YOU, and here is a recap of what happened at Miss Nebraska 2014.. both the real awards, and the Brandi Petersen Unofficial Superfan Awards.

Miss Nebraska 2014 Megan Swanson

Megan Swanson, representing Miss Douglas County, won the crown of Miss Nebraska 2014. (Thanks to Corbey R. Dorsey/Pixel Creation Workshop for the photo!) I LOVE this moment, because it shows jubilation, celebration and unity, and also gives a glimpse into Megan’s personality. Megan worked so hard over the last few months, on her talent, her physical and mental self, and on her platform, Total Body Wellness. One of my favorite things about her is that in the videos she has posted from visits to schools and kids, Megan gets on their level–they are goofy, they have fun, they LAUGH. She’s not an untouchable figure talking to children, she’s AMONG them, talking WITH them. Other photos and videos show abandon, a free spirit, LIFE. You see all of that in this image.. and her connection to family, celebrating this amazing moment if only through their eyes. I can only imagine how very proud her mom, sister and rest of her family must be right now–they were her biggest supporters in the crowd and no doubt in real life.

Megan won a Preliminary Talent Award for her incredible rendition of ‘You Raise Me Up,’ and she tied for 2nd place for the Miss Nebraska Community Service Award, given in honor of an awesome guy, Bobby Foehlinger. Add it all up–Megan Swanson takes home approximately $11,000 in scholarship money. Learn more about Megan by checking out my post about her a few weeks before the pageant took place. You can also read the KETV article about Megan and my interview with her in her first days as Miss Nebraska.

The 2014 Miss Nebraska Top 5

I look at each of these women, and remember thinking while watching prelims ANY of them could win (and a few others!!!) THAT is how strong the competition was this year. (Thanks to Field Director Darrell Drullinger and the Miss Nebraska Scholarship Organization for the picture!)

Starting from the left, Alyssa Howell finished 4th Runner Up. Alyssa’s piano performance was one of my favorite talents–INCREDIBLY strong and commanded attention from start to finish. I don’t think this young woman stopped smiling the entire time she was in North Platte; a lesson to all of us, no matter if you are on stage, in an interview, or talking to someone on the street, a smile and positive attitude will make you memorable. Alyssa certainly is!

Rachel Foehlinger finished 2nd Runner Up. WHAT A WEEKEND for this incredibly talented young woman. Rachel’s talent, twirling a baton(s) at ridiculous speeds to Proud Mary, made me forget to breathe, and apparently everyone else, too; she won both Preliminary and Overall Talent awards. Acrobatics, dance, three batons at once, all while smiling and energizing the crowd–IT WAS AMAZING. Rachel also won the Overall Interview Award, and was a finalist for the Miss Nebraska Community Service Award.

Megan Swanson, Miss Nebraska 2014. I like to sing. I’m not the best.. or even great.. but I think I have a good ear for what IS good (and I’m pretty nit-picky about it!). MEGAN IS GOOD. Scratch that–SHE’S GREAT. From her first notes, Megan captured the audience. Her talent isn’t just well practiced (which as a Christian recording artist and music major, I’m SURE she’s practiced quite a bit!), it’s a gift that’s been fine tuned into an art. Megan told me after Miss Nebraska she wants to win awards for talent at Miss America; I truly think she can do it.

Aleah Peters finished 1st Runner Up. My overall thoughts about Aleah: DAAAAAANG. I don’t know if Aleah left the studio or gym in the months leading up to Miss Nebraska. She is a model of health and fitness and her stage presence was literally, jaw dropping, winning her the Overall Swimsuit Award. Another young woman who never stopped smiling, or shining brightly, on that stage. Just AMAZING.

Allison Tietjen finished 3rd Runner Up. She’s only 18. SHE IS 18 YEARS OLD. And she knocked the socks off of everyone in the crowd at Miss Nebraska. Allison also had an exceptional talent, playing what seemed to be a very difficult piano piece, along with musical accompaniment, which I can only imagine adds substantial difficulty–you lose your place or tempo once, you’re in trouble for the remaining performance. I literally said, ‘WOW’, out loud when she finished during the preliminary competition.

Other Miss Nebraska Award Winners..

(Thanks again to Darrell Drullinger & the Miss Nebraska Organization for the photo!)

Again, starting on the left, Megan Dimmitt received several awards in North Platte, including 2nd place for the Miss Nebraska Community Service Award, the Miss America Community Service Award, the non-finalist Interview Award and the Miracle Maker Award. Over the course of her year as Miss High Plains, Megan has raised more than $10,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network of hospitals. 10-GRAND that will go straight to hospitals and the kids they care for, like Children’s Hospital and Medical Center in Omaha. Absolutely AMAZING.

Next to Megan is Mindy Schreiber, who also received several awards at Miss Nebraska. Mindy won the Miss Nebraska Community Service Award for her work with mentoring and the Teammates Organization over the last several years, as well as the Miss America Scholar Award and Miss Congeniality. Smart, caring and dedicated to service. INCREDIBLE.

(Thanks to Joe Bohac & Colour Artistry for the photo!)

Lianna Prill received the non-finalist Talent Award, and it was truly special. Lianna played piano to music.. then SANG to music.. all in the same performance. Again–I can’t imagine how difficult it is to play piano along with background accompaniment.. adding singing to the mix makes my head spin thinking, let alone performing! And Lianna NAILED it, wowing the crowd with her rendition of ‘All By Myself’. Great job from a terrific young lady!

***

NOW, the awards that don’t come with scholarship money or plaques… but the history making honor of being noted on my blog!!!

<<no applause… not even crickets.. tumbleweed rolls past me as I type this…>>

Whatevs. Thanks for reading 🙂

THE KERRI STRUG AWARD FOR BEING BOSS

Remember Kerri Strug, and this historic Olympic moment?

Strug needs a 9.5 on vault to secure gold for the United States Women’s Gymnastics Team at the 1996 Atlanta Games. She falls on her first vault, badly injuring her ankle. She performs her second vault as literally, millions of Americans hold their breath watching, and lands it on ONE FOOT, scoring a 9.7 before crumbling to the ground in pain. GOLD. THAT, folks, is BOSS. (No, seriously, real word… Merriam Webster defines it as ‘great or excellent’.)

Cue Kimberly Brennan, Miss Metro. After a wonderful night of preliminary competition Thursday, Kimberly had arguably one of the worst days of her life Friday. During rehearsal, a baton hit her in the eye. As if that wasn’t bruising enough (literally), Kimberly was overcome by symptoms of gallstones; she spent much of the day in the hospital, sick and in pain. Still, Friday night at 7pm sharp, Kimberly was on the Miss Nebraska stage, smiling and competing, as if she felt PERFECT. If you didn’t have ‘insider information’ as to what happened, you wouldn’t have had any idea. And with that, she became a Top 10 finalist. AMAZING. I gave her a hug after Friday’s night of competition. She had to be exhausted, but she was still smiling.

KIMBERLY BRENNAN IS TOTALLY BOSS. Kim, I BOW DOWN TO YOU. You are MAGNIFICENT!

***

THE CHARLIZE THERON DROP DEAD GORGEOUS AWARD(s)

One of my favorite parts about Miss Nebraska (and pageants in general…) the gowns. OH, THE GOWNS! So this award is named for the earth’s most gorgeous human being, Charlize Theron. Yup. This year, I have three favorites (photos copyright of Brown Harano Photography).

Megan Dimmit, Miss High Plains.. STUNNING. Her gown was just so different than what anyone else had and reflected incredible poise and maturity. Knowing Megan and the work she’s done, this is WAS SO fitting for her and absolutely perfect 🙂

chrissy

Chrissy Townsend, Miss Lake McConaughy.. at Miss Nebraska, as is usually the case at Miss America and Miss USA, there are so many gorgeous white and black gowns. Chrissy, with her amazing green gown, totally stood out in a great way. LOVED IT–loved it even more up close. Chrissy was also named a Top 10 finalist–loved her!

Rachel Foehlinger, Miss River City. I DIE. Rachel just FLOATED in this dress.. it just sparkled, and so did she. LOVED!!

***

THE JILLIAN MICHAELS AWARD FOR BEING ABLE TO CRUSH THINGS

Jillian Michaels is arguably the most in-shape woman on the planet.

At least, that’s what I thought.. until I saw Aleah Peters, Miss State Fair, at this year’s Miss Nebraska pageant.

(Thanks to Joe Bohac and Colour Artistry for the photo!)

I don’t have words. Just stop what you are doing and stare at this photo for a few minutes.

…..

I am still IN COMPLETE AWE. Aleah literally made people in the audience gasp (in a good way!!) She showed everyone there and everyone watching from afar that this part of the competition isn’t about being the skinniest or starving yourself. It’s about dedication to becoming the best physical form of yourself you can possibly be through nutrition and fitness.

HOLY. CRAP.

Aleah, there is a special prize for winning this award on my blog. You have to follow me around for the next few months and motivate ME to get into this kind of condition. Or come to the Newsplex with me, and every time I head for the Reeses in the vending machine, just say ‘Brandi…’ and pose like this.

***

THE AWARD FOR WHO I WANT TO BE WHEN I GROW UP

Pay no attention to the fact I am 15 years older than this young woman. Whatevs.

Miss Omaha Payton Merritt, also a Top 10 finalist, made me smile every time she walked out on stage. She’s STUNNING, she sings with soul, she’s the whole package. Arguably, her shining moment (and a shining moment for the entire program) came during the onstage question portion of competition during Friday night’s preliminaries. You’ve probably heard the horror stories, the ‘world peace’ and ‘the Iraq’ moments, that make all of us who volunteer in these programs CRINGE because it is such a poor representation of a group of truly brilliant, young women. So this moment, answering questions from Miss Nebraska 2013 JaCee Pilkington, was FRIGGIN AWESOME.

(Thanks to the Miss Omaha/Miss Douglas County/Miss River City pageant for the photo!)

Payton didn’t get any ‘softball’ questions; she was asked how she promotes awareness of eating disorders when part of the Miss Nebraska competition is to walk around in a bikini. She answered, very articulately and without pause, that we all need to find a balance between healthy living and self image. Her second question was whether the NBA was right to fire Donald Sterling over racist comments made in private. Again, without hesitation, Payton competently and confidently answered that Sterling had a history of similar statements and that his behavior was not the representation the NBA wanted or needed, so yes, they were within their rights to dismiss him.

Whether you agree with Payton or not in her responses, she answered each question with confidence, poise, reasoning behind her responses and a display that she was not only aware of current issues, but goes beyond to learn more before forming a basis for her opinions. IT WAS AWESOME. I wish video of THIS would go viral because THIS WOMAN is a true representation of the intelligence and confidence within these young women. WAY TO GO, PAYTON!!!

***

This is officially the longest blog post ever.. I leave you with one final award.

THE CAT DEELEY SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE FUTURE CONTESTANT AWARD

I. LOVE. So You Think You Can Dance. I even blogged about my favorite moments.

Judge me. Whatevs.

Another young woman was also crowned in North Platte last weekend..

Morgan Holen is the new Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen! (Thanks to the organization for the photo!)

I didn’t get to see the teen pageant this year, but I am BEYOND THRILLED for this incredible young lady. From the first time I saw her dance and every time since, she is absolutely CAPTIVATING while she performs. She lets the music flow through her, and the emotions and stories she shares and tells through her dancing are truly phenomenal. Morgan is also a hard working, beautiful, kind young woman (and has an INCREDIBLE family behind her every step of the way!!)

Morgan, I am so very proud of you and excited to follow your big year! And yes, I am counting down the days until you try out for So You Think You Can Dance.

***

To all of you who have been following this series on Miss Nebraska, THANK YOU. I have thoroughly enjoyed learning and writing about each of these young women, and I flatter myself to hope more people learned about this program and the incredible young ladies who participate. These are all exceptional people who are making our world a better place. TO YOU, LADIES, THANK YOU. You make me want to be a better woman, the best version of myself I can possibly be.

Best of luck to you no matter what path you take. Crown or no crown, you are ALL making our state more beautiful.

Magic Dance

May13

If you saw the title of this post, and immediately thought of this…

..then YOU. ARE. AWESOME.

Labyrinth. CLASSIC. And yet again, the Miss Nebraska contestants reading this post are probably thinking, ‘what the….’ because it came out in 1986.

Ladies, find it on Netflix. DEFINITELY worth it.

ANYWAY… Magic Dance is one of the songs in the movie. And THAT, ladies and gentlemen, is about all I’ve got for you when it comes to dance. Unless you want to check out my post regarding the 10 best moments of So You Think You Can Dance. I CANNOT dance. I can do many things; dancing is not among them. It truly looks like something is medically wrong with me when I try. So, I am in complete awe of people who CAN dance, like the young lady you are about to meet.

Miss Lake McConaughy, Chrissy Townsend

“I have been dancing since the age of 3 so being able to showcase my love for something I’ve been doing for so long is wonderful,” Chrissy told me recently. “Capturing an audience with just the movement of your body is such a great form of expression.”

Chrissy just completed her final year as a member of the University of Nebraska-Omaha dance team, which finished in the top 5 in the National Dance Alliance championships.

Click here to see video of the UNO Dance Team performing.

Chrissy’s time as a Maverick also introduced her to the Make-A-Wish foundation, inspiring her personal platform of service as Miss Lake McConaughy: ‘Be The Change, Make-A-Wish’.

“I have been involved with Make-A-Wish for four years now and it really has changed my life,” said Chrissy. “It all started out with my sorority when I joined Chi Omega and since then my love for it has continued to grow. I have the opportunity to meet Wish families and get to know them on a personal level which makes volunteering with them so great.”

It’s kids like these that make being a titleholder so special for Chrissy.

“My absolute favorite part is being a role model for the younger generation,” said Chrissy. “Both boys and girls really look up to you and admire the things that you do in your daily lives so being able to be a positive influence on them makes it all worthwhile.”

Not so long ago, Chrissy was looking up to Miss Nebraska contestants, as a participant in the Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen program.

“It was a really great way to prepare for the transition to the Miss division,” said Chrissy. “I also really value the fact that it provides such great scholarships. College has been so rewarding the past four years and having the money to help pay back my student loans is so nice.”

Chrissy not only thinks Lifestyle and Fitness (aka the swimsuit competition) should be part of the program, she calls it great!

“These incredible women do so many different things throughout their lives and should be commended for being able to stay so busy and still have time to live an active lifestyle,” said Chrissy. “We live in an age that being healthy and active isn’t valued. I think the swimsuit portion of the competition showcases and brings light and hope to those who are trying to better themselves.”

CHARISMATIC, QUIRKY, HAPPY

“Anyone who talks to me will notice that I talk with my hands a lot,” said Chrissy. “This means I’m overly excited about anything and everything that I get to talk about. What I’m getting at is that I am always really excited to be so animated in person.”

Maybe that’s the secret to being such a phenomenal dancer–being so excited about life you just can’t contain it inside your body.

I found this quote about dance:

‘Opportunity dances with those already on the dance floor.’ –H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Fitting, because here’s what Chrissy says about Miss Nebraska:

“It is all about empowering women and providing them with so many opportunities both personally and professionally. I urge people to see the bigger picture. It is way more than pretty girls with sparkles and makeup. These ladies are the future and they do everything and anything they can to make a difference and we need more people in the world today like that.”

Kind of like dancers.. behind the amazing costumes and stage makeup are gifted artists who tell stories through movement and music.

Miss Lake McConaughy is bringing her Magic Dance to Miss Nebraska. And Chrissy, if you need some awesome music to get even MORE excited, the Labyrinth soundtrack is great 🙂

Connect with Miss Lake McConaughy, Chrissy Townsend

On Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and by email at crtownsend88@gmail.com

***

The Miss Nebraska pageant takes place June 5-7 in North Platte, Nebraska. For more information, visit the Miss Nebraska website.

***

PREVIOUS POST.. Miss Crane Festival, Lianna Prill

NEXT POST.. Miss Scotts Bluff County, Brittli Sell

Special Feature, Miss Nebraska USA 2014

May8

“Who is Amanda Soltero.. and how do I meet her??”

Ladies and gentlemen, THIS is Amanda Soltero, Miss Nebraska USA 2014

..and NOW you know why my friend asked to meet her.

Jaw. Dropping. GORGEOUS. If ever there was a time for me to write a blog using only photos, this would be it.

STUNNING: adj. To astonish; astound; amaze: Her beauty stunned the audience.

(Photos courtesy of Rachel Imdieke, Fadil Berisha and Georgina Vaughan)

Believe it or not, Amanda seems to be just as beautiful, if not more so, on the INSIDE. The same weekend young women from across the state will compete for the title of Miss Nebraska, Amanda will be competing in Baton Rouge for the title of Miss USA. Today in a special feature, get to know Miss Nebraska USA, and find out why she wants your support representing our state.

***

First things first.. what’s the difference between Miss America and Miss USA? I think my fellow KETV anchor and pageant-graduate
Alex Hoffman put it best in saying these two organizations are the most prestigious, well known and respected in the pageant world. They are televised, have history on their side, and have thousands of participants nationwide. While many of the same young women compete for both, they are two different systems.

The Miss America Organization is a not-for-profit organization; The Miss USA/Miss Universe organization is a joint venture partnership between NBC and Donald Trump.

Women who compete for Miss America must be 17-24 years old; women who compete for Miss USA must be between 17-27 years old.

Finally, Miss America contestants compete in swimsuit, evening gown, interview and talent; Miss USA contestants do not compete in talent.

Miss USA Erin Brady and Miss America Nina Davuluri

***

Enough with the facts and figures… meet Amanda!

“I am determined to use my year to make a difference in people’s lives, especially children with cancer,” Amanda told me in a recent interview. “You get one year to be Miss Nebraska USA and even though I come from a small town (Columbus, Neb.), I know I can still make a big difference by using my title to do so! I want to show my state that I can make them proud by representing them in the best way and by truly making the most of my time with the crown, not just for all the glitz and glam.”

Just as each of the Miss Nebraska contestants have a personal platform of service, Amanda is focusing her year on spreading awareness of childhood cancer.

“Pediatric cancer research and awareness is very near and dear to my heart,” said Amanda. “6-year old Sammy Nahorny is a family friend of mine and when they started Sammy’s Superheroes, I knew I wanted to get involved.”

Sammy was diagnosed at 4-years old with Neuroblastoma, cancer that commonly affects the abdomen and adrenal glands and is very difficult to treat. Loved ones formed Sammy’s Superheroes to show their support and raise money for research; more than 10,000 people now support the cause, including Olympic Gold Medalist Curt Tomasevicz. Check out Sammy’s Superheroes online or on Facebook to learn more!

“When you see directly the effects childhood cancer can have on someone you care about, it really hits you hard and makes you want to help in any way that you can,” said Amanda. “I knew that if I won Miss Nebraska USA, I would be able to give a larger platform for Sammy’s Superheroes and really get the word out how desperately funds are needed for research to find a cure.”

Amanda recruiting Miss Arkansas USA, Miss Kansas USA and Miss Oklahoma USA to become Sammy’s Superheroes!

Amanda has also offered her support and time to Team Jack, the organization raising money to fight pediatric brain cancer in honor of Jack Hoffman. Jack and his dad, Andy, are good friends to KETV, sharing their story of Jack’s long battle with a brain tumor, his friendship with Nebraska football player Rex Burkhead, and the now legendary Spring Game touchdown run viewed more than 8.4 million times on YouTube.

I, too, have had the privilege of sharing Jack’s story, and the fight he represents. Team Jack has now raised more than 1.1 million dollars for pediatric brain cancer research, and has the support of tens of thousands across the country.

Click here to watch my story following up with the Hoffmans in the middle of Jack’s fight, as two other families lost little boys to brain cancer

Click here to watch my story about the ‘Year of Jack’ following the touchdown that touched America.

Click here to learn more about Team Jack online and on Facebook

Amanda and Jack at the first annual Team Jack Gala

“I know that the more people that hear and see where their money is going, the quicker we can find a cure!” said Amanda.

It is THIS, not the fancy photo shoots or glamorous trips around the country, that Amanda enjoys the most about being Miss Nebraska USA.

“The appearances I have gotten to do WITH Sammy have had the most impact on me and have been the most meaningful,” said Amanda.

***

While many state titleholders take a year off from school and full time work to focus on service and appearances, Amanda has not; she remains a student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and will graduate this weekend with a degree in Broadcasting.

Amanda reporting at a Nebraska women’s soccer game for the B1G Network

But make no mistake; Amanda says she is ready to represent Nebraska at Miss USA.

“I want to make the people of my home state proud and go out knowing that I did everything I possibly could to prepare and leave no stone unturned,” said Amanda. “I want to be a platform for the organizations that mean the most to me, and get others on board as well. I want to represent myself, my family and my state in the best light possible.”

Amanda and her family

Amanda will fly to Louisiana on May 25th, but she’s hoping to take Nebraska with her. You can watch the Miss USA pageant live on NBC June 8th at 8/7 Central, hopefully cheering loud enough that Amanda will be able to hear you 1,000 miles away.

“My hopes for the pageant are to show the world what Nebraskans are made of and to let people know there is more to Nebraska than cornfields and flat land,” said Amanda.

And there’s more to Amanda than a pretty face. This young woman is reshaping how children, families and Nebraskans think of ‘beauty queens’. Beauty INSIDE and out.

GO. BIG. RED. Represent, Miss Nebraska USA!

Connect with Miss Nebraska USA 2014 Amanda Soltero on

Twitter, Instagram, Facebook

on the Miss Nebraska USA website

and on Amanda’s blog

***

PREVIOUS POST.. Miss Alliance Staci Craighead

NEXT POST.. Miss Northwest, Alex O’Connor!

This One’s For The Girls

Mar4

IT’S FASHION! IT’S FASHION! (Project Runway fans.. flashback to when Santino sang that in the work room in Season 2, annoying his fellow designers… it still makes me laugh :))

Another Omaha Fashion Week is in the books and I had the great honor of emceeing Saturday night’s finale! This is one of my FAVORITE events of the year to host, because my best friends and I make a girl’s night of it and hit the town!

Thanks to Craig Lenihan and OmahaNightLife.com for the photo!

A few years ago, all of us going out together was the norm. We’d sing our hearts out at karaoke, meet at Maria’s in Ralston to catch up over tacos, and of course, watch American Idol together every week! Careers, weddings, and several kiddos later, it’s harder and harder to find time (and babysitters!) to get together. When we do, it is SOO good for the soul! I think we all have those people in our lives that just KNOW us inside and out; we relate, we laugh, we’re uplifted just by being around each other. These are my people 🙂

To ANYONE out there balancing work, family and the stresses of daily life, call your friends and plan a night out. Even if it’s once a month. Or once every six months! It is so worth it 🙂

As for Fashion Week–what an AMAZING show on Saturday night! I know absolutely nothing about fashion (I have a hard time making myself presentable for our newscasts most days..) but I love the transformation for the runway. The hair, the makeup, the vision that goes into each designer’s collection is so cool to see. I have such a neat perspective sitting backstage; I see the models line up quietly, sometimes giggling or whispering reassurances to one another. Others are completely stoic, their eyes focusing on the spotlight in front of them that marks their entrance to the crowd. But ALL of them, the second they turn that corner, JUST WORK IT. They strut, they smile, they pose–and I LOVE every moment of it! It’s such an incredible thing to see!

http://www.ketv.com/news/entertainment/-/9674216/19116580/-/ds2gw0z/-/index.html

This is my third time hosting Omaha Fashion Week, but my FIRST emceeing on a night that featured Swim Wear.

I was absolutely blown away. Not just by the fashion, but by the models. I have such admiration and respect for people who have the self discipline and drive to eat right, exercise, and take care of their bodies.

Truth check.. I was also incredibly jealous of the models that, no doubt, stopped for ice cream on the way home and are just incredibly gifted physically 🙂 ESPECIALLY jealous being 6 months pregnant. As I noted in this post, https://ketvanchorsaway.wordpress.com/2013/02/07/there-and-back-again-a-mommas-tale/, I am one of those lucky expecting mothers who gains weight EVERYWHERE, not just in my belly. So when I saw THIS..

Photo by Greg Higgins w/ G Thompson Higgins for Omaha Fashion Week, Designer: Leggoons by Chad Carr, Model: Cara Marie Fleischman

I felt like THIS..

Homer Simpson. In a mumu.

Aaaaahhh.. whatever. It’s fashion! IT’S FASHION! And it was a WONDERFUL time!

Thanks to Light Illusions Photography for the photo!

***

‘You had the opportunity to make a difference in the life of a child. Now I will most likely be going home Teddy Graham-less.’ — @HonestToddler

Finding Light

Feb24

Last night, I cried watching a rerun of Grey’s Anatomy. Don’t judge.

It was the episode where social services takes away Zola while trying to determine if Meredith and Derek are fit parents. Watching that sweet baby girl playing with her ‘Daddy’s’ badge, then watching her ‘Mommy’ take her, kiss her face, and hand her off to a stranger.. it was just too much.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.. it’s just a TV show. (A FANTASTIC TV show!) But in all seriousness, I cannot IMAGINE losing my sweet boy. It’s so easy to take for granted every hug, every smell, every laugh, every smile.

The Thomas family will be the FIRST to tell you to never, EVER take any moment.. any single second.. for granted.

Thank you to Nick and Alesha Thomas for the photo

I first met Nick and Alesha Thomas when they were arguably going through one of the darkest times of their life; they had just lost their youngest child and only son, Lane, to SIDS. They dropped their sweet 5-month-old baby off at daycare and never saw him alive again.

Just three months after Lane’s death, Nick and Alesha learned they were expecting again. July 2012, they welcomed Asa Lane Thomas into the world and into their family.

To all parents reading this, do you remember how hard those first few months were as a new mom or dad.. not ever sure you were doing the right thing? Imagine how Nick and Alesha lived day to day after bringing Asa home.. afraid to ever let him out of their sight, afraid to ever shut their eyes and sleep when he slept, afraid to ever trust anyone again.

Monday night at 10, the Thomas’s share their story of HOW they are doing it–how they are raising another baby after losing one to SIDS. Their message is clear in both words and actions; that while they will NEVER forget the little boy they lost, Asa has brought back a little bit of joy into their lives. (And he’ll make you smile, too–he is SO DARN CUTE!!! 🙂 They give so much hope to anyone who has lost a child; that there is still light in the midst of so much dark.

I wish the Thomas’s all the happiness in the world; they are such kind people, and they absolutely deserve it after everything they’ve been through. I hope you tune in for their story TOMORROW NIGHT (MONDAY) AT 10!

***

“When babies look beyond you and giggle, maybe they’re seeing angels.” — Eileen Elias Freeman