I’ve performed the national anthem in front of tens of thousands of people. I’ve covered stories live on CNN. I’ve interviewed a sitting President, Olympians, celebrities.. I’m fine.

Talking about myself in a speech? No, thank you. So there I was Saturday night, my heart beating out of my chest, leaning on my husband and giving myself a mental pep talk before taking the stage, speech in hand. Then… SUPRISE! No speech needed. And while I was relieved, I also deeply wanted to thank so many people who had nurtured me, cared about me, believed in me, and helped me get to that moment.

Oh, yeah – I have a BLOG!

And with that, here’s that speech I had ready Saturday for this surreal moment, as I was inducted into the Papillion-La Vista High School Hall of Fame.

First, I am beyond blessed to receive this honor, but more so, to be surrounded by some extraordinary people who were in my corner for this very special event. Thank you to my husband, Brian; to my parents, Steve and Jackie; to Mike and Katie; to Brian and Lisa; to Kristi and Jason; to my amazing Petersen family. I am so grateful for your friendship, love and support. Thank you to the friends and colleagues who nominated me: Rob, Melissa, Enid, Adair and Jim. Thank you to my team at HDR who generously sponsored this year’s Hall of Fame Gala. Finally, congratulations to my fellow honorees: in particular, Bill and Sherry Anders; Bill was my Papio Rec League softball coach rec league and the entire Anders family are among the BEST HUMANS you could hope to meet.

As I tried to form my thoughts in preparing for this, I kept coming back to gratitude and community. I am a proud K-12 PLCS student, starting at Carriage Hill Elementary in 1986. Our principal, Don Hooper, was the coolest person on earth when he dressed up like Billy Ray Cyrus for Halloween. Nearly 40 years later (wow, that hurts) I still remember Mrs. Blaze, Mrs. Witzki, Mrs. Young.

Papillion Junior high school: Mr. Kinkennon came to school early every day to play checkers with me. Yes – I was that cool. You see that softball picture? My glasses were so big, I could see into the future and knew what pitch was coming across the plate. I was still rocking those glasses in 8^th grade, when Bob McCaw removed me from his classroom when my Braves beat his Cubs, because he didn’t want to hear me gloat all hour. Mrs. Gess’s classroom was always my favorite place – choir. It was singing that helped me build confidence and friendships. Mrs. Gess let us choose the songs, from Disney to Celine Dion, and gave kids like me the opportunity to express ourselves and find our voices. Mrs. Gess – thank you for nurturing my love of music. Every opportunity I’ve had to sing for a crowd over the years, it’s because you showed me how great it felt to be in that spotlight.

At Papillion-La Vista High School, teachers like Bev Ruff, Jeff Nienheuser and Kathy Kollars devoted their lives to us, helping us discover our passions and develop our talents. When you’re 17, you take for granted that your teachers are just there every day after school for rehearsals, and every Friday night and all weekend for plays and competitions. You don’t understand that’s time away from their families, or time for themselves. I get it now, and I am so grateful. These incredible educators challenged me, they helped me learn how to take criticism and improve, they gave me opportunities to discover that, hey, I kinda like this writing and performing thing. And they were always the positive reinforcement I needed to make me feel maybe I had something special to offer the world.

I still remember our activities director, Chuck Johnston, taking the time to sit in on musical rehearsals to watch what we were doing. At a time when Monarch football, baseball and softball were legendary, it meant so much to us that we, and our activities, were just as important. And truly, I felt that from our entire community growing up. Sergeant Greg Galardi honking at us in his Papillion Police cruiser as we walked home from school. Jim Thompson sending me a handwritten card from Pinnacle Bank after homecoming. And Judge Bob O’neal, one of the most respected judges in the state of Nebraska, volunteering to coach our mock trial team all the way to a state championship and national competition.

Those relationships matter. I dreamed big and pushed for more because I didn’t know anything different than encouragement and support. I see it now in my own sons – when a child feels safe and free to be themselves at school, they explore – they open up – they have no fear in finding out and developing who they were meant to be. That, then benefits an entire community. Proof? My next chapter at KETV.

At one point, we had five Papio grads working on air together, and I would argue that to us, our jobs had extra meaning and value because this is home. You were and are our people, so we cared more. When I interviewed Sarpy County Sheriff Jeff Davis – he was still the guy flipping pancakes after church at St. Columbkille. Lieutenant Russ Zeeb was my friend Stephanie’s dad. Mayor Dave Black knows all of my Dad’s best fishing spots. Mayor Doug Kindig was a staple at the barber shop in La Vista where my little brothers got their hair cut. Sarpy County Election Commissioner Wayne Bena was my swim coach at Papio Pool. I absolutely destroyed Captain Jeremy Kinsey in fundraiser softball. (That’s how I remember it any way.. and now I can’t drive through the city of Blair, because he’s Chief.) Even in how our team operated at the station: Rob McCartney, Adrian Whitsett, John Campbell.. we leaned on each other and helped each other be better because we were connected through this special place and wanted to positively impact where we came from.

I found those connections again when I became Communications Director at Westside. Dr. Enid Schonewise, Annette Eyman, Jim Frederick – they were my confidantes, mentors and friends as I navigated a new career. When I joined the corporate world at HDR, two of the first two people to welcome me in with open arms were Papillion-La Vista graduates Gayle Portera and Robbie Rodriguez. When I decided to compete for Mrs. Nebraska, Erik and Liz Lilla and their business, Metro Stars Gymnastics, were among my most supportive sponsors. When I got the call to be part of an awesome new podcast called Question Marks, the invite was from my fellow Monarch, Grayson McCartney.

Folks, there is something very special about being part of a community like this. When we all cheer each other on and support one another; when we make each other feel valued and loved and part of something; we all benefit. We want to do the right things for others. We are more open to learning and growing because we trust where that advice is coming from. We then want to pay forward the love and support we’ve always felt. When one of us succeeds, we all do because we’re all connected through this community.

Judge Bob, you told us once when we were in St. Louis for Mock Trial Nationals: “when people ask you where you’re from, don’t say Omaha. Say Papillion.”

I do. Every time. And I hope when I say I’m a Monarch, I’m doing all of you proud. Not just in awards or accomplishments or experiences, but through character, by supporting others, in reinforcing the power and value of community. Your love and support have driven me professionally and personally.

To my teachers and coaches, principals and school administrators, volunteers and boosters, thank you. I am forever in your debt for all that you gave me as a foundation for LIFE. Among my many blessings, thank you for creating the environment that led to me so many treasured classmates who I will always count among my friends: Cassie Harrison, Melissa Arch, Jenni Murray, Pam Menschner, Adrian Whitsett, Jake Ozanne, David Wenzel and so many others.

Mom and Dad, thank you for choosing Papillion, because of the schools you wanted for us. Thank you for giving everything you had to find us that little house on Redwood Lane, filled with love and the unspoken ideals that I could do absolutely anything I wanted in this life.

To my husband, Brian, and my boys, Easton and Evan: you are my rock. You are my ocean. You give me the support to pursue everything I dream of, and you’re my security blanket to wrap me up when the world is too much. You are my everything and I love you more than I can describe in words.

To all of you – thank you for this incredible honor. I am so deeply grateful for this blessing, and for this community. Go Monarchs.