1 On January 15, 2009, after taking off from LaGuardia airport in New York City, an Airbus 320 struck a flock of birds and was forced to land in the Hudson River. The remarkable calm and skills of the pilot and crew have become an inspiration to people around the world. With the loss of both engines and only seconds to make critical decisions at 3000 feet (914 m) above the river, all the training and preparation of everyone involved came into play. The pilot, copilot and crew had logged many hours of flight time and it was their steady demeanor that helped the passengers remain calm during an intense situation. The remarkable result was that all 155 persons on board survived with reports of only relatively minor injuries. Additionally, the first responders from the ferry boats nearby acted quickly and employed their extensive training to make sure everyone got to shore safely. No one involved had ever experienced anything quite like this and yet their countless hours of experience combined to achieve an inspiring and successful rescue which will serve as an example for years to come of the value of Preparation…Pass It On. image/jpeg Hudson_bus.jpg 212288 2009-03-19T18:00:00-06:00 38 image/jpeg Hudson_14x48.jpg 227292 Preparation application/x-pdf HUDSON.pdf 4584476 image/jpeg HUDSON_thumb.jpg 7106 1 image/jpeg HUDSON.jpg 322854 2009-11-18T21:17:55-07:00 1 The American Revolutionary War hung in the balance. Fort Lee was abandoned and George Washington moved his troops to safety behind the Delaware River. Defeat hung in the air like thick smog as the demoralized troops began to fall apart in retreat. Sickness and desertion rates increased. Washington, Commander-in-Chief anguished; it was a very low point in the American Revolution. Washington needed to do something. Thomas Paine wrote of this defining period, “These are times that try men's souls; the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.” Within a day of its publication in Philadelphia, General Washington ordered it be read to the troops encamped at Washington Crossing. On December 26, 1776 at about three o’clock in the morning Washington marched approximately 2,700 soldiers off of the Jersey Bank of the Delaware River resolved to take victory. It was a pivotal point in the American Revolution, the Battle of Trenton. Although not much territory was gained, it was crucial to prove to a bunch of unrefined soldiers and anxious countrymen that a quest for independence could succeed! That is indeed what happened. “First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen, he was second to none in humble and enduring scenes of private life. Pious, just, humane, temperate, and sincere; uniform, dignified, and commanding; his example was edifying to all around him as were the effects of that example everlasting…” Congressman Henry Lee spoke of Washington shortly after his death in 1799. Washington was a man of virtue, character and peace. He offered a firm warning against partisanship in domestic politics and called for Americans to work for the common good. He was persuaded to attend the Constitutional Convention of 1787 where he was unanimously elected President of the Convention. It was at this Convention that the office of the Presidency was designed. On April 30, 1789, George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States in New York City. He is the only president to receive 100% of the electoral votes. Congress voted to pay the President a salary of $25,000, a large sum of money at the time. Already wealthy and viewing himself as a public servant Washington turned the salary down but later accepted so that the office of the president would not be limited to only the wealthy. George Washington remains an iconic figure for leadership in the face of adversity the world over. He built character, expected greatness, and inspired loyalty in a new nation. image/jpeg Washington_bus.jpg 232874 2009-03-19T18:00:00-06:00 27 image/jpeg Washington_14x48.jpg 217773 Leadership application/x-pdf WASHINGTON.pdf 4361340 image/jpeg WASHINGTON_thumb.jpg 7691 2 image/jpeg WASHINGTON.jpg 336760 2009-11-18T21:17:54-07:00 1 When Jane Goodall was just two years old, her father gave her a toy chimpanzee named Jubilee, beginning Jane’s lifelong love affair with animals. Her favorite books as a child were about animals, including The Story of Dr. Doolittle, The Jungle Book, and the Tarzan books. By the age of 10, Jane dreamed of going to Africa to live with animals. When she was 23, Jane boarded a ship that took her from her home in England to Kenya. There she met Dr. Louis Leakey, a renowned paleontologist and anthropologist. Dr. Leakey was impressed with Jane and hired her as his assistant. She traveled with Dr. Leakey and his wife Mary Leakey to Olduvai Gorge on a fossil-hunting expedition. Though she enjoyed the expedition, it was clear to Jane that she would prefer to study living animals. Recognizing her unique talent, Dr. Leakey offered Jane, who had no formal research training, the chance to study the wild chimpanzees of the Gombe Reserve in Tanganyika (now Tanzania) a very daring adventure for a young Englishwoman. In 1960 Jane arrived in Tanzania to begin her research at Gombe. It was very difficult for the first few months as the chimpanzees fled from Jane in fear. She persevered. Eventually the chimpanzees allowed her closer, and she began what has become the longest field study of any animal species in their natural habitat, now carried on by other researchers. One of Jane’s most significant discoveries was that the chimpanzees would strip leaves off of twigs to fashion tools for fishing termites from a nest. Previously, it was believed that humans were the only species to craft tools. In fact humans were defined as ‘Man the Toolmaker’. In 1986 Jane’s life was forever changed. After attending a conference of chimpanzee experts in Chicago, she became fully aware of the devastating environmental threats that, if left unchecked, could easily wipe out the entire population of wild chimpanzees. Jane decided to give up her life in Gombe and became a tireless advocate for environmental conservation and education. Today Jane Goodall is one of the most recognizable and celebrated female scientists in history. She travels around the world more than 300 days per year where she is known as an environmentalist and humanitarian. In 1977 Jane founded the Jane Goodall Institute www.janegoodall.org which now has offices in 20 countries working to promote community-centered conservation and development programs in Africa as well as a global youth environmental education program Roots & Shoots, which has tens of thousands of members in 100 countries. Though best known for her work with chimpanzees, Jane is passionate about protecting all animals as well as their natural surroundings and the global environment. Among her many honors, she has been named a Dame of the British Empire (the female equivalent of a knighthood), has been awarded the Gandhi/King Award for Nonviolence, Spain’s Prince of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research, the Franklin Medal, the French Legion of Honor, the UNESCO Gold Medal Award, and the National Geographic Society’s Hubbard Prize. She has been presented the Medal of Tanzania and Japan’s prestigious Kyoto Prize and has twice been named a United Nations Messenger of Peace. Mother Nature could not ask for a better agent. image/jpeg Goodall_bus.jpg 247877 2009-03-19T18:00:00-06:00 43 image/jpeg Goodall_14x48.jpg 220458 Stewardship application/x-pdf GOODALL.pdf 5180016 image/jpeg GOODALL_thumb.jpg 8203 3 image/jpeg Goodall_30sheet.jpg 246538 2009-11-18T21:17:55-07:00 0 Michael J. Fox is an endearing character we have come to know through film and TV roles over the past three decades. He is charming, funny, ever-youthful and always surprising. Michael Andrew Fox was born in Canada on June 9, 1961. As a child, his interests included hockey, creative writing, art and music. Fox’s acting talents began to emerge in his teens, and at eighteen he moved to Los Angeles. As he registered with the Screen Actors Guild he realized that another actor had registered under the same name. In homage to one of his favorite character actors of all time, Michael J. Pollard, Fox decided to adopt the letter “J” as his new middle initial. Fox skyrocketed to fame in a career-making role—that of Alex P. Keaton on television’s “Family Ties” (1982-1989). On this show Fox also met and married actress Tracy Pollan in 1988. The couple now has four children. From “Family Ties” Fox went on to star in several notable films, including the Back to the Future trilogy, The American President and Doc Hollywood. As Fox’s legions of fans know and love, he lives life — no matter the challenge or opportunity. In fact, his current real-life role may be the most inspiring part he has ever played. In 1998, Michael let the world know that he had Parkinson’s disease. Showing the same commitment, drive and imagination we had come to love in his years on the large and small screens, he quickly emerged as a leading advocate and spokesperson to increase awareness of Parkinson’s disease and funding for critically needed research toward a cure. The eponymous Foundation he established in 2000 is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease by strategically prioritizing and aggressively funding Parkinson’s research. And Fox has become known as an author, penning two best-selling memoirs of his life before and after Parkinson’s. With characteristic optimism, Fox describes his Parkinson’s diagnosis in terms of what it has added to, not taken away from, his remarkable life. “I once said to somebody that in a way it was a gift…it really taught me acceptance,” Fox said in a recent interview. “It taught me a lot about taking life on life’s terms. And it opened up a way for me to be of service that I hadn’t imagined before.” Michael is an inspiration to millions of people worldwide. His humor and unfailingly positive outlook are visible in everything he undertakes. And that gives us all hope — at a time when we need it most. image/jpeg Fox_bus.jpg 174166 2009-05-06T18:55:44-06:00 49 image/jpeg Fox_14x48.jpg 164645 Optimism application/x-pdf MICHAEL_J_FOX.pdf 3127186 image/jpeg MICHAEL_J_FOX_thumb.jpg 7458 4 image/jpeg MICHAEL_J_FOX.jpg 274882 2009-11-18T21:17:55-07:00 1 It requires incredible foresight to remain faithful to an idea. To ignore what your eyes and ears tell you and imagine better. One individual - Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson imagined better and ended eighty years of baseball segregation. He crossed the color line and made his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947 as the first African American in major league baseball. One of five, born on January 31, 1919 in Cairo, GA, Robinson was raised in relative poverty by a single mother. Even though he wasn't born into a privileged environment, Jackie was destined for something infinitely larger. His professional baseball career, which spanned from 1947 to 1957, is the quintessential story of an All American Baseball hero. Despite unmitigated racial discrimination from baseball's management, teammates and fans, Robinson possessed the courage to defy retaliation and was the consummate athletic professional. He was an outstanding base runner, stealing home 19 times in his career more than any ball player since World War I. As a disciplined hitter, a versatile fielder and an outstanding defensive player Robinson won Rookie of the Year in 1947 and Most Valuable Player in 1949 for the National League. He was the first African American inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame and became a member of the All-Century Team. He received a championship ring when he led the Dodgers to a 1955 World Series victory over the New York Yankees. Major League Baseball retired Robinson's number 42 - never to be worn by another ball player - in recognition of his accomplishments on and off the field in a ceremony at Shea Stadium. Robinson's historic achievements in baseball were but one aspect of his life and legacy. Quoted as saying, "I'm not concerned with your liking or disliking me - all I ask is that you respect me as a human being" he was a champion of civil and human rights. He was a staunch supporter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Anti Defamation League of B'nai Brith. He founded the Jackie Robinson Construction Corporation to improve living conditions of Black Americans in metropolitan areas and he served as Vice President of Chock Full O' Nuts. Robinson was a significant fundraiser for the NAACP and a major figure in national politics influencing leaders such as Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy and Nixon; Hubert Humphrey and Nelson Rockefeller. As a syndicated columnist, he was a civil rights movement forerunner. One of only two players in baseball Jackie received the Congressional Gold Medal and President Ronald Regan awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. image/jpeg Robinson_bus.jpg 153391 2008-02-22T05:00:00-07:00 5 image/jpeg Robinson_14x48.jpg 138024 Character application/x-pdf ROBINSON.pdf 2618108 image/jpeg ROBINSON_thumb.jpg 7136 5 image/jpeg ROBINSON.jpg 241042 2009-11-18T21:17:54-07:00 1 Jim Thorpe didn’t excel in just one sport, but in many, making a name for himself in track and field, professional basketball and football, as well as major league baseball. In 1999 the Associated Press placed him third on their list of top athletes of the century, behind only Babe Ruth and Michael Jordan. Though sports came easy for Thorpe, life did not. James Francis Thorpe was born a twin, but lost his brother to pneumonia when he was just nine years old. His mother died of childbirth complications just two years later. His father passed away after a hunting accident when Thorpe was 16 and attending the Carlisle Indian Industrial School. Thorpe was raised in the Sac and Fox nation in Oklahoma and despite the hardships of his youth lived up to his native name: Wa-Tho-Huk, translated as "Bright Path." His brilliant athletic career began at the Carlisle School. Though football was his favorite sport—earning him All-American honors in 1911 and 1912—he did not stop there. He competed in baseball, lacrosse, track and field, and even ballroom dancing, winning the 1912 inter-collegiate ballroom dancing championship. Indeed 1912 was a big year for Thorpe. He became famous overnight with his outstanding performance at the Stockholm Olympics. He won the gold medal for both the decathlon and pentathlon. It is believed that as King Gustav awarded Thorpe his medals he said “You, sir, are the greatest athlete in the world.” In 1913 Thorpe’s medals were stripped from him when the committee discovered he had played minor league baseball prior to competing in the Olympics, therefore violating the amateur regulations. Many opposed this ruling, however, and in 1983 Thorpe’s medals, and his name, were reinstated in the record books. Thorpe went on to excel in major league baseball and professional football. He played for various MLB teams and finished his career with a .252 batting average, 91 runs scored, and 82 runs batted in. Likewise Thorpe played for six different NFL teams. He even coached one of his teams, the Canton Bulldogs, while still a player. Thorpe’s talent did not go unnoticed—he was selected to the first All-NFL team in 1923. The sheer excellence with which Thorpe performed every sport he ever competed in is an inspiration to many. Undoubtedly, Jim Thorpe is one of the greatest athletes this world has ever seen. image/jpeg Thorpe_bus.jpg 156135 2009-03-19T18:00:00-06:00 17 image/jpeg Thorpe_14x48.jpg 147721 Excellence application/x-pdf THORPE.pdf 1910482 image/jpeg THORPE_thumb.jpg 7237 6 image/jpeg THORPE.jpg 228597 2009-11-18T21:17:54-07:00 1 When forty five year old Randy Pausch was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer he chose to focus on living rather than dying. As a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University, Randy was asked to deliver a ‘last lecture’—a well-known tradition on campus that allowed for professors to take a break from academia and share worldly wisdom with students as if, hypothetically, they were dying and had one last lecture left to give. The only difference in Randy’s case is that Randy really was dying, a fact that only motivated him more. He agreed to deliver his last lecture, ‘Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams’ on September 18, 2007 to a packed McConomy Auditorium. Randy began by sharing several of his boyhood dreams—some which he had achieved and others he hadn’t. He describes the importance of having dreams and how you can still learn a lot by trying for your dreams even if you don’t always succeed. He shares the values he has learned through his experiences that he hopes to pass on to others: integrity, honesty, character, hard work, laughter and gratitude. Randy’s last lecture received so much praise and attention that he agreed to turn it into a book by the same name. It quickly became a best seller, outlining Randy’s lifelong philosophy and revealing the ultimate source of his motivation—his three young children. Randy Pausch passed away July 25, 2008, but he continues to motivate us all, encouraging us to never give up on our childhood dreams. image/jpeg Pausch_bus.jpg 164781 2009-03-19T18:00:00-06:00 31 image/jpeg Pausch_14x48.jpg 159905 Motivation application/x-pdf RANDY_PAUSCH.pdf 2419372 image/jpeg RANDY_PAUSCH_thumb.jpg 7249 7 image/jpeg RANDY_PAUSCH.jpg 242654 2009-11-18T21:17:54-07:00 1 Though Western Oregon senior Sara Tucholsky often dreamt of what it would be like to hit her first home run, she never imagined it would end with the opposing team carrying her around the bases. In fact, her home run almost didn’t become a reality, except for the sportsmanship of Central Washington players Mallory Holtman and Liz Wallace. Sara’s home run came in the second inning of the second game of a double header between the two teams. At stake that weekend was a bid to the NCAA's Division II playoffs. Central Washington needed to win the second game to keep its postseason dreams alive. When Sara hit the home run, there was a girl on second and third, both of whom ran to home in a celebratory fashion. Sara, in her excitement, over-ran first base. When she turned quickly to go back, her right knee gave out. Sara went down in agony just a few feet from first base. Sara was clearly injured and unable to walk on her own. Her coaches and teammates were trying to decide what to do—if the Western Oregon trainers, coaches, or teammates touched Sara or helped her up, she would be out. If they substituted in a pinch-runner for Sara, her home run would be counted as a two-run single. Central Washington player Mallory Holtman was also a senior. After four years, she knew the rules of the game and quickly realized that for Sara’s home run to count Central was going to have to help. Mallory ran over to the umpires and to Western’s coach. “Excuse me,” Mallory interrupted, “would it be OK if we carried her around and she touched each bag?” Though surprised, they said yes. Mallory and teammate Liz Wallace promptly picked Sara up, gingerly letting her left foot down to touch each of the bases to get her home run. This act of sportsmanship contributed to Central’s loss. Still, there were no regrets or angry words from Mallory’s teammates. They all agreed—helping the opponent was simply the right thing to do. image/jpeg Softball_bus.jpg 232527 2009-03-19T18:00:00-06:00 42 image/jpeg Softball_14x48.jpg 212901 Sportsmanship application/x-pdf SOFTBALL.pdf 3130992 image/jpeg SOFTBALL_thumb.jpg 8613 8 image/jpeg SOFTBALL.jpg 296335 2009-11-18T21:17:55-07:00 1 Every once in a while, an individual comes along with a vision - an idea born that challenges established practices. At first, the idea may be ridiculed; even fiercely resisted but eventually it is accepted by the mainstream. The man with this idea is someone perhaps you wouldn't expect. You may know him as a former World No. 1 professional American tennis player. A winner of eight Grand Slam singles tournaments. An Olympic Gold Medalist in singles tennis. One of five male players winning all four Grand Slam singles events during his career. The only player in the open era to win every Grand Slam singles title. These are but a few of his athletic accomplishments, as you'll soon see there are more - yet of a different kind. His name - Andre Agassi - Founder of The Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation, which has raised over $60 million for at-risk children in Southern Nevada. His idea - the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy (AACPA) in West Las Vegas, NV a K-12 public charter school for at-risk children - it's changing the face of how we educate our children. Founded by Andre, and funded by a 40 million dollar contribution from The Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation, Agassi Prep opened in 2001 with 150 students in grades three through five. A growing student body has expanded Agassi Prep into a K-12 eight-acre campus. In 2005 Agassi Prep was the only middle school in Clark County, NV to receive an "Exemplary" designation from the Nevada Department of Education. In addition, was named a National Model Charter School by the U.S. Department of Education. Tuition is free - the majority of students are African American selected by lottery and there's a waiting list. The Agassi Prep mission? "Providing educational and recreational opportunities to enhance the character, self-esteem and career possibilities of at-risk boys and girls." Agassi Prep gives children who don't fall into traditional "teaching guidelines" an education and the tools to develop into well-rounded adults who in turn contribute to the community. Beyond a conventional academic curriculum, Agassi Prep inspires students to develop intangible traits such as character, respect, motivation and self-discipline, which until recently due to emphasis on analytical skills have been undervalued. Students must memorize The Academy's Code of Conduct posted inside the front door, which states, "The essence of good discipline is respect. Respect for authority and respect for others; respect for self and respect for rules. It is an attitude that begins at home, is reinforced in school and is applied throughout life." Agassi Prep holds students, parents and teachers to a higher standard and individual accountability. Each one must sign a "Commitment to Excellence." Consequences for not upholding the Academy principles can lead to loss of certain privileges and relative to its teachers, dismissal from AACPA. Humanity is ripe for the hallmark of a true teaching academy like Agassi Prep. Its creative methodology inspires students to a higher level of development without personal agenda. But what inspires Andre to continue this monumental mission? For Andre it's a selfless undertaking. It's a labor of love and devotion. Helping children realize their full potential and to stand on their own - is the highest reward. image/jpeg Agassi_bus.jpg 240245 2008-02-22T05:00:00-07:00 19 image/jpeg Agassi_14x48.jpg 226882 Giving Back application/x-pdf ANDRE-AGASSI.pdf 3422145 image/jpeg agassi_thumbnail.jpg 4616 9 image/jpeg ANDRE_AGASSI.jpg 307255 2009-11-18T21:17:54-07:00 1 "My humanity is bound up in yours for we can only be human together." -Desmond Tutu In his role as General Secretary Tutu became an outspoken critic of apartheid in South Africa and brought awareness of the struggle to the world stage. Tutu insisted on the use of non-violent resistance by black South Africans. He risked being jailed after calling for a boycott of municipal elections. He also urged the international community to use economic sanctions against the apartheid government. That government responded by canceling Tutu's passport. Tutu's work was recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984; two years later he was elected Archbishop of Cape Town in 1986 and held that office until his retirement ten years later. Since the official end of apartheid in the early 1990's he has become a mediator in the transition toward democracy. Tutu has also chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission which was set up by former President Nelson Mandela to investigate human rights violations during apartheid. In 2007 Tutu was awarded the Gandhi Peace Prize in India. He has also been given some 40 honorary doctorate degrees from universities around the world. At 76, he continues to teach and travel the globe and has become a champion for international human rights. He has also worked to heighten awareness about the global AIDS epidemic. His message is one of compassion, forgiveness and peace that may be best summed up in a moment captured in a Johannesburg suburb in the height of apartheid violence: "Do not hate," he said, "let us choose the peaceful way to freedom." image/jpeg Tutu_bus.jpg 164321 2008-02-22T05:00:00-07:00 35 image/jpeg Tutu_14x48.jpg 146815 Peace application/x-pdf TUTU.pdf 2713342 image/jpeg TUTU_thumb.jpg 7610 10 image/jpeg TUTU.jpg 239957 2009-11-18T21:17:55-07:00 1 For many people, aging is a time to slow down their lives and rest on past achievements. Nola Ochs sees growing older as an opportunity take on new challenges, and to satisfy unfulfilled yearnings. In the spring of 2007, at age 95, Nola Ochs became the world's oldest college graduate, an accomplishment that realized a dream that began 77 years earlier. Born in 1911 in Kansas, Nola always loved learning. She said, "I've always been encouraged to do well in school. My mother and my paternal grandfather were both teachers. I've kind of inherited this instinct to learn, I think, from my forefathers." Nola attended grade school, graduating salutatorian from the eighth grade, and went on to high school where she graduated in 1929. In April of 1930, she began college with a correspondence course from Fort Hays State University in Kansas. Following her family's tradition, Nola passed her teacher's certification exam and taught in county schools for four years before marrying her husband, Vernon Ochs. Soon the realities of being a farmer's wife sidetracked any thoughts of furthering her education. She lived a good, full life on the farm, raising four sons -- who have given her 13 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren -- but there was always a yearning in Nola to learn more about the world she lived in. But it wasn't until after Vernon died in 1972, that Nola began to consider resuming her formal education. She said, "I went back purely for entertainment and something to do. My husband had died, and we had raised our family. We were still living on the farm. Well, I just thought something off the farm would be fun. And my first class was a tennis class at the Dodge City Community College. That was in 1978. I would have been 67." Nola was undaunted by being with classmates who were young enough to be her grandchildren. Her natural wit and "down to earth" charm helped her to easily fit in with her fellow students. Nola commented, "I had fun, I enjoyed it. And the students on the campus accepted me just as I was, you know. We had fun together. I enjoyed myself so much that that fall I enrolled in an agribusiness marketing class at the college. Really, I had no thought of ever graduating. I just took classes that I was interested in. For 10 years, I just took classes that were of interest to me, something that I would enjoy doing; mostly history classes and composition classes. And then one of the professors came to me and told me if I would take college algebra, I would have enough credit hours to graduate from Dodge City Community College. I kind of like arithmetic and mathematics, so I tried it and I made it fine. In 1988 I graduated from the Dodge City Community College." At the age of 77, Nola received her Associates degree. She recalled, "But you know, it wasn't long till I still wanted to go to school. It was fun to go to classes. And if I had an assignment to do in the evening, that occupied my time in a pleasant way, you know. It wasn't long before I was going back to the Dodge City Community College just for fun. Then pretty soon I decided I wanted to graduate from a four year college and I contacted Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas. In an e-mail that she sent to an academic advisor at Fort Hays, Nola stated that she took a course from the university years earlier. After some digging, the advisor located a 3x5 card stored in the basement of the administration building stating that Nola had indeed been a student, in 1930. When the advisor e-mailed back, she asked, "Nola, how old are you?" Nola's response was that she didn't keep track of her age, but that she could tell her that she was born in 1911. At first Nola took classes long distance, but soon found that to be too cumbersome. So Nola moved the 100 miles from her farm to live in an on-campus apartment at Fort Hays State University. And there Nola Ochs completed the final 30 hours for a bachelors degree. Every day, Nola walks purposely down the campus hallways with her books in a cloth tote bag, and is a favorite of both students and professors. As a student of history, Nola has brought a refreshing perspective to her classes as she's shared her personal experiences. She said, "They like hear to hear my stories, and I like to tell them." Graduating at 95 years of age with a 3.7 GPA may, for most people, be enough of an accomplishment, but not for Nola Ochs. Currently, she is a graduate student at the University working on her Masters degree. And what is she considering for her future? Nola explained, "I like to tell stories, you know. And when people ask me that, I tell them I'm going to seek employment on a cruise ship as a storyteller. The Princess Cruise Ship contacted me a year ago and I've already been on one tour as a storyteller." What advice does Nola Ochs have for fellow seniors in their golden years? "Probably it would be to keep active, always. You know, people retire. That doesn't mean to sit down and stay there, or watch television. Retirement ought to give us time to go out and just do what we want to do. So my advice is to satisfy some desire that we have within ourselves to get out to go see people, travel a little, anything that they'd like to do rather than just be idle." In her humble way, Nola says, "I haven't done anything other than what everybody else does, you know. But for some reason I've lived a little longer." What an amazing example of someone who truly is living her life to the fullest. image/jpeg Grad_bus.jpg 160806 2008-02-22T05:00:00-07:00 28 image/jpeg Grad_14x48.jpg 146403 Live Life application/x-pdf NOLA_OCHS.pdf 2000690 image/jpeg NOLA_OCHS_thumb.jpg 7351 11 image/jpeg NOLA_OCHS.jpg 225892 2009-11-18T21:17:54-07:00 1 Who comes to mind when you think of a humanitarian - Mother Teresa - Oprah Winfrey? There are many - not all with worldwide acclaim. Some are every day people performing extraordinary acts of love and kindness. Like Carol Donald, foster parent to 100 children with medical needs in Northern California since 1965. Simply stated, Carol Donald was born with a passion for babies and raising children. It's her life long calling. One of five daughters born in Northern California, Carol received her 2-year Home Economics certificate in 1942. That same year she married her husband Richard. They had a son, Edward, and six years later a daughter Kathy. The doors to Carol's dream opened in 1965 when she attended her daughter's confirmation class and saw two pregnant 14 year old girls. She wondered, "What happens to those babies?" That night she prayed and the next morning saw a newspaper ad for Foster Parent Training. With her husband retired from the Air Force and her children in high school, the timing was perfect. Carol - ready to accept her mission - answered the ad and forever changed the face of foster parenting. The challenges of foster parenting in the 1960s were daunting and being unwed and pregnant was socially unacceptable. The transition from foster to adoptive parents was as Carol describes, "A death." They would take the child from the foster home and send them to the adoptive parents without notice. Seeing the child's trauma, she became an integral part in developing a "partnership" - arranging meetings between foster and adoptive parents. She made sure the children never called her Mommy, but always Grandma and eased their transition by telling the child, "You're going to your new Mommy and Daddy." Carol affectionately recalls one child in particular, she would say, "Your Mommy and Daddy are coming to take you to your new home." The day the adoptive parents were to arrive, the young child, perched at the window saw their car approach and squealed, "Look Grandma here's my new Mommy and Daddy!" Many of the infants suffered from fetal alcoholism or were methadone-addicted. She feels it's important that the community know the damages of fetal alcoholism. And Carol, through loving arms comforted her babies. It's been written that God's love comes through a Grandmother's heart. When the babies' seizures were so bad, Carol would rock them on her chest - sometimes for 24 hours - until the seizures subsided. She says babies sense your love and, "You cannot take good care of a child unless you love the child, you must be part of their life." Carol opened her home to 100 children and her heart broke every time they went to adoptive parents. The passing of her husband in 1985 five days before his 65th birthday didn't alter Carol's love for raising children or her determination to give them a fighting chance. She continued to volunteer as a foster parent without her husband at her side for the next 23 years. Carol at age 85 recently retired due to a fall where she broke her femur - her concern - the children. If she fell and hurt the baby, she could never live with herself. Living in a Northern California community in the home where she was raised Carol reflects upon her life as a foster parent for the past 43 years. The Jefferson, The Juvenile Justice and the Concord Human Relations Commission - Life Time Achievement Awards are merely a few of the plaques that decorate her wall. "It's a wonderful life I live and if I had to live my life over I wouldn't do it one bit differently." Her foster children stay in touch and she feels blessed. Who knows what ripple effect Carol's unconditional love for children has had? As she has shown there is no sense of time when you love what you do - you're inexhaustible. Even in retirement, Carol remains visible in the community and occasionally mentors foster parents. To capture the magnitude of Carol's 43 years of service and outstanding contributions in a few short words is no easy task. Yet Carol's devotion to so many children and her love that lights their lives will be felt for generations. She shows us it's possible - from where we stand - to make a difference in the world. Carol Donald - an everyday hero - is an inspiration to all. image/jpeg Fostermom_bus.jpg 237611 2008-02-22T05:00:00-07:00 30 image/jpeg Fostermom_14x48.jpg 206816 Love application/x-pdf CAROL_DONALD.pdf 3044133 image/jpeg CAROL_DONALD_thumb.jpg 8821 12 image/jpeg CAROL_DONALD.jpg 316056 2009-11-18T21:17:54-07:00 1 The doctors told Dick Hoyt that his infant son Rick should be institutionalized. There was no hope, they said, of Rick being anything more than a vegetable. Four decades later, Rick and Dick Hoyt have competed over 65 marathons, 206 triathlons and hundreds of other events as a father-son team. Rick, whose father was told he was incapable of intellectual activity, graduated from Boston University in 1993. The devotion of this remarkable pair to each other and their goals has enabled them both to accomplish things that neither would have done alone. During Rick's birth in 1962, the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck, cutting off oxygen to his brain. Rick is a spastic quadriplegic, has cerebral palsy, and is unable to speak. Despite the doctors' grim prognosis, Dick and his wife Judy raised him at home and struggled to get him admitted to public schools. Though Rick could not speak, his parents knew that he was just as intelligent as his siblings. Dick convinced a group of engineers from Tufts University to build a "communicator" for his son. By hitting a switch with the side of his head, Rick selects letters to form words and sentences. Rick was attending public school two years later, when a five-mile benefit run was held for a local lacrosse player who had been paralyzed in an accident. Rick wanted to participate. Dick was not a runner, but agreed to push Rick in his wheelchair. During the run, Rick felt as though he simply wasn't handicapped anymore - he was just one of the runners. Wanting to give Rick this feeling as often as possible, Dick ran in an increasing number of events with his son. As "Team Hoyt" began competing in earnest in the late 1970s, they were often treated as outsiders and avoided by other competitors. What began as a way for Rick Hoyt to experience inclusion and equality broadened. It became a way to send a message that, as Rick said, "everybody should be included in everyday life." The duo's first Boston Marathon in 1981 yielded a finish in the top quarter of the field, and attitudes began changing. "In the beginning no one would come up to me," recalled Rick. Now, he says, "many athletes will come up to me before the race or triathlon to wish me luck." Dick has ran, ridden and swam literally thousands of miles to be with and support his son. This has enabled Rick to live a full and purposeful life - but it turns out that, in a way, Rick has saved his father's life as well. After a mild heart attack, Dick's doctors told him that he may have died 15 years ago if he weren't in such good shape. Team Hoyt's total commitment to each other and to what they do ensures that they are constantly challenging themselves. In addition to their athletic events, the Hoyts tour the country to speak about their experiences. They have also established the Hoyt Fund, which is supports educational and technological efforts surrounding persons with disabilities. They anticipate running their 26th Boston Marathon in April. image/jpeg Hoyt_bus.jpg 205191 2007-06-18T18:00:00-06:00 16 image/jpeg Hoyt_14x48.jpg 191405 Devotion application/x-pdf TEAM_HOYT.pdf 3284402 image/jpeg TEAM_HOYT_thumb.jpg 7775 13 image/jpeg TEAM_HOYT.jpg 290345 2009-11-18T21:17:54-07:00 1 In 1937, a group of dignitaries and holy men arrived at the home of a peasant family in northeastern Tibet. The Tibetan Regent had seen the house with its unusual gutters in a vision. They were coming in search of the fourteenth Dalai Lama, the temporal and spiritual leader of Tibet. Three-year old Lhamo Thondup passed the traditional tests to confirm that he was the reincarnation of the previous Dalai Lama, who died in 1933. Enthroned in 1940, he was renamed Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso. Soon after, Tenzin Gyatso, now known as His Holiness the Dalai Lama, was initiated as a novice monk and began intensive studies in Buddhist philosophy, logic, Tibetan art and culture, Sanskrit, and medicine. In 1950 the People’s Liberation Army of China invaded Tibet. The Tibetan people called on the Dalai Lama to assume full leadership of the country at the young age of fifteen. The future of Tibet has remained an ongoing question, and the Dalai Lama now resides in northern India. Throughout a half-century of conflict and uncertainty, the Dalai Lama has told his people, “our struggle must remain nonviolent and free of hatred." The Dalai Lama has led Tibet in becoming a modern and democratic nation, initiating reforms in government and education. He has worked diligently to build a relationship with China and open dialogue about Tibet’s future. In 1989 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his dedication to nonviolence. As the Nobel Committee said, “he has instead advocated peaceful solutions based upon tolerance and mutual respect in order to preserve the historical and cultural heritage of his people." A monk and scholar who rises at 4 a.m. to pray, The Dalai Lama has written or coauthored many books, including his autobiography and best-seller The Art of Happiness. He travels the world to promote “human values such as compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, contentment and self-discipline” among individuals and nations, as well as respect between religious traditions. Whether his listeners are monks or corporate leaders, diplomats or high-school students, many are inspired by his message, delivered with optimism, candor, and humor. The Dalai Lama believes all things and people are interconnected. As the world enters an era of globalization, he emphasizes the great potential of nations and people to learn from and help each other -- and our responsibility to make that happen. “The key to creating a better and more peaceful world,” he has said, “is the development of love and compassion for others.” This starts at the level of the individual. If individuals practice what the Dalai Lama has called “inner disarmament,” focusing on compassion for others rather than on selfish thoughts and aims, they will be able to help the world achieve peace. And kindness helps the doer, as well: “Taking care of more people, you get to benefit,” he has said. “Taking care of one’s self only, you lose.” The Dalai Lama has called the 20th century “a century of violence.” He calls upon all people to make this new century into “a century of dialogue” that will lead to peace. The Dalai Lama is acquainted with the sorrow, suffering and violence in the world. Yet he has upheld a principle shared by belief systems worldwide – of compassion towards others, regardless of their beliefs or actions. In this way, the Dalai Lama hopes, and works, for a better world. Sources: Tibet.com (government site), Nobel prize site, Dalailama.com (his web site), Wikipedia, http://www.fpmt.org/teachers/hhdl/hrurspeech.asp (Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition: Speech on Human Rights and Universal Responsibility, June 15 1993) image/jpeg Dalai_bus.jpg 175627 2007-04-25T18:00:00-06:00 22 image/jpeg Dalai_14x48.jpg 141259 Hope application/x-pdf DALAI.pdf 4194884 image/jpeg DALAI_thumb.jpg 8157 14 image/jpeg DALAI.jpg 252263 2009-11-18T21:17:54-07:00 1 Albert Einstein was born in 1879 at Ulm in Württemberg, Germany. At age five, his father showed him a pocket compass, and Einstein realized that something in "empty" space acted upon the needle; he would later describe the experience as one of the most revelatory of his life. Though he built models and mechanical devices for fun, he was considered a slow learner, possibly due to dyslexia, simple shyness, or the significantly rare and unusual structure of his brain (as seen following his death). He later credited his development of the theory of relativity to this slowness, saying that by pondering space and time later than most children, he was able to apply a more developed intellect. Einstein began to learn mathematics at about age twelve. There is a recurring rumor that he failed mathematics later in his education, but this is untrue; a change in the way grades were assigned caused confusion years later. His failure of the liberal arts portion of the Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (Federal Swiss Polytechnic University, in Zurich) entrance exam the following year was a setback; he was sent by his family to Aarau, Switzerland to finish secondary school, and received his diploma in 1896. In 1900, he earned a teaching diploma at the Swiss Polytechninc University and was accepted as a Swiss citizen in 1901. During this time Einstein discussed his scientific interests with a group of close friends. Upon graduation, Einstein could not find a teaching post, and instead, started to work at the Swiss Patent office. He judged the worth of inventors' patent applications for devices that required a knowledge of physics to understand. He obtained his doctorate after submitting his thesis "On a new determination of molecular dimensions" in 1905. That same year, he wrote four articles that provided the foundation of modern physics, without much scientific literature to refer to or many scientific colleagues to discuss the theories with. Most physicists agree that three of those papers (Brownian motion, the photoelectric effect, and special relativity) deserved Nobel prizes. Only the photoelectric effect would win in 1921. Albert Einstein was much respected for his kind and friendly demeanor rooted in his pacifism. He occasionally had a playful sense of humour, and enjoyed playing the violin and sailing. He was also the stereotypical "absent-minded professor" he was often forgetful of everyday items, such as keys, and would focus so intently on solving physics problems that he would often become oblivious to his surroundings. He died on April 18, 1955 in Princeton, New Jersey. image/jpeg Einstein_bus.jpg 181597 2006-08-21T10:49:24-06:00 9 image/jpeg Einstein_14x48.jpg 156277 Confidence application/x-pdf EINSTEIN.pdf 2694393 image/jpeg EINSTEIN_thumb.jpg 7481 15 image/jpeg EINSTEIN.jpg 264392 2009-11-18T21:17:54-07:00 1 Liz Murray grew up in the Bronx, New York City. Addicted to drugs, her parents sometimes sold household items in order to get their fix. As a child, Liz hated school because when she did go, she was teased: there was no one to make sure that she showered or got up on time. As Liz grew older, her parents lost their apartment, and her father ended up in shelters. For a time Liz was placed in a group home. Her mother, who suffered from AIDS, became increasingly ill and was hospitalized. Rather than submit to the dehumanization and sadness that had characterized her experience in foster care, Liz chose to fend for herself. Liz slept on friends' couches or floors at odd hours, camped outside or rode the subway all night. After her mother's death, Liz, then 16, felt that event as "a slap in the face" that caused her to question where her life was going. With an eighth-grade education, Liz decided that, as she said, "Life rewards action. I was going to go out there and... have action in my life every day instead of this stagnant behavior that I had been partaking in for so long." Liz was admitted an alternative high school, the Humanities Preparatory Academy, where she doubled her course-load and completed high school in only two years. One of the top ten students in the school, Liz went on a school-sponsored trip to Boston and walked through Harvard Yard. "It's not as though I had some sort of epiphany at the moment ... It was just more that I got jealous of how these students had so much opportunities, and I'd felt that I'd had very little. And so then I thought, `Well, what's the difference between me and anyone here?' And I filled in all the gaps." Her grades qualified Liz for the New York Times College Scholarship, and she applied for and was admitted to Harvard. But far from resting on those considerable laurels, Liz continued to break new ground. A member of the Washington Speakers' Bureau, Liz has found she has "a knack for" sharing her story and insights with audiences across the country. Her story was adapted for film by Lifetime Television in the 2003 film "Homeless to Harvard: the Liz Murray Story." Liz is also an avid writer whose memoirs, "Breaking Night," were published in 2005. Liz returned to New York City to care for her ill father, and is currently pursuing a master's degree in psychology and sociology at Columbia University. image/jpeg Homeless_bus.jpg 170556 2007-06-18T18:00:00-06:00 2 image/jpeg Homeless_14x48.jpg 158285 Ambition application/x-pdf LIZ_MURRAY.pdf 2327092 image/jpeg LIZ_MURRAY_thumb.jpg 7981 16 image/jpeg LIZ_MURRAY.jpg 232774 2009-11-18T21:17:54-07:00 1 Norman Rockwell was one of the most prolific and well-known of American artists. During his 47-year career as a painter and illustrator, he depicted people and situations from everyday life. By his death in 1978, his work was familiar to millions of people, and remains iconic today. Some of Rockwell's most recognized works include his cover art for the Saturday Evening Post, the Four Freedoms series (Freedom from Want, Freedom of Speech, Freedom to Worship and Freedom from Fear), A Problem We All Live With, showing school integration during the 1960s, and Triple Self-Portrait, which is featured on The Foundation for a Better Life's "Inspiration" billboard. Rockwell was born in 1894 and died in 1978. The Great Depression, World War II, The Civil Rights movement, the Space Age - Rockwell lived, and painted, through most of the turbulent 20th century. Even during the most frightening and uncertain moments of that century, Rockwell's work never turned grim or despairing, retaining a fascination with the human drama he saw unfolding around him. Rockwell's work conveyed a belief in the goodness of humanity. One example is Triple Self-Portrait, where we see the artist (in his 60s at the time of painting) from the back, reflected in a mirror, and in the larger-than-life portrait on the easel. In the mirror we see a man with an aging face, a grizzled moustache, and thick glasses - but he is painting himself as a young, handsome man, ready to take on the world. The viewer gets the sense that this depiction isn't a false one, but that the artist is looking in the mirror and seeing his own best self. In the same way, Rockwell saw the best in those around him. The Four Freedoms, painted during World War II, made it evident that Rockwell also strove to showcase what he saw as the best of American values and ideals. In the midst of a grim conflict, these illustrations were a reminder of what kind of world Americans were working for through their sacrifice and hardship. Deeply concerned with civil rights, equality, and the war on poverty, Rockwell incorporated these themes into his later work. Even his paintings that deal with troubling subjects show a resistance to despair and pessimism. Critics have dubbed Rockwell's work as sentimental, overly sweet, and idealized. This may be because his work seemed to say that the ordinary people he was painting were extraordinary at the core. If what Rockwell painted was idealized, he also believed that we, individually and collectively, have the potential to reach that ideal. "I showed the America I knew and observed to others who might not have noticed," Rockwell said. He later received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for "vivid and affectionate portraits of our country." Norman Rockwell saw the best in us - and so he has given us occasion to see the good in ourselves and each other, and that even an honest look in the mirror can be cause for hope. Sources: Norman Rockwell museum: www.nrm.org Freeglossary.com Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Rockwell image/jpeg Rockwell_bus.jpg 247568 2007-05-10T18:00:00-06:00 25 image/jpeg Rockwell_14x48.jpg 200650 Inspiration application/x-pdf ROCKWELL.pdf 2820879 image/jpeg ROCKWELL_thumb.jpg 8120 17 image/jpeg ROCKWELL.jpg 321931 2009-11-18T21:17:54-07:00 1 Helen Keller lived in a world of "white darkness." Born in Alabama in 1880, she was a year and a half old when a case of scarlet fever or meningitis left her deaf and blind. She made signs and gestures, but her inability to truly communicate often left her a frustrated and angry child. Once she locked her mother in the pantry for three hours, and another time threw her baby sister out of a cradle. When Helen was seven, her parents hired Anne Sullivan to be Helen's tutor. Helen learned the manual alphabet and some words, and for a month Helen signed words without knowing what they meant. One day Anne held Helen's hand under a water pump while signing "water." Helen suddenly realized that the motions of her fingers had meanings. "That living word awakened my soul, gave it light, hope, joy, set it free!" she later said. "There were barriers still, it is true, but barriers that could in time be swept away." During the next decade, Helen worked on sweeping away those barriers. She learned to read Braille, to read lips, and to write in normal script. Eventually she learned how to speak. She attended schools for the deaf and blind, and, later, mainstream schools. It took Helen longer than her classmates to study, but she excelled. She wrote her memoirs, The Story of My Life, at age 21, the first of almost a dozen books during her lifetime. She graduated from Radcliffe College, the women's counterpart to Harvard University, in 1904: the first deaf and blind person to graduate from a college. Helen also learned to paddle a canoe, ride a horse and a tandem bicycle, and play chess and checkers. She traveled the country as a lecturer, and until 1922 she even performed in vaudeville shows. By the age of 24, Helen Keller was already more accomplished and famous than any other deaf and blind person in modern history. But she also had a keen sense of the needs and suffering of others. Having "swept away" her own barriers as much as she could, she began to focus on doing the same for others. Helen Keller believed in equal rights and economic opportunities for all people. She became involved with the Women's Suffrage movement, the Socialist movement, and labor unions. In 1917 she founded an organization that would later become Helen Keller International to prevent and treat blindness in impoverished nations. This organization still operates in 23 countries. Helen Keller joined the American Foundation for the Blind in 1924 and advocated for policy and technology to allow the blind to live fuller lives. During her lifetime she traveled to 35 countries on five continents. Her visits inspired blind citizens, but also prompted legal and social changes that improved conditions for them. Helen Keller died in Easton, Connecticut in 1968, a few weeks short of her 88th birthday. In her life she had reached far beyond her own darkness to shape a more compassionate future for the world. As Senator Lister Hill of Alabama said in her eulogy, "Her spirit will endure as long as man can read and stories can be told of the woman who showed the world there are no boundaries to courage and faith." image/jpeg Keller_bus.jpg 192348 2007-06-18T18:00:00-06:00 18 image/jpeg Keller_14x48.jpg 152711 Foresight application/x-pdf HELEN_KELLER.pdf 2858749 image/jpeg HELEN_KELLER_thumb.jpg 7226 18 image/jpeg HELEN_KELLER.jpg 280252 2009-11-18T21:17:54-07:00 1 On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong made history. He became the first human to set foot on the moon. People around the world watched and listened as Neil slowly climbed down the ladder of the lunar lander. He then stepped on the moon's surface where he could look up and see Earth far above him. His words resonate today, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Armstrong took his picture of Buzz Aldrin who joined him on the moon. Pilot Michael Collins, who remained in orbit, was the third member of the historic Apollo 11 team. image/jpeg Moonwalk_bus.jpg 202645 2006-08-21T10:49:03-06:00 1 image/jpeg Moonwalk_14x48.jpg 194426 Achievement application/x-pdf MOON_WALK.pdf 3414630 image/jpeg MOON_WALK_thumb.jpg 8327 19 image/jpeg MOON_WALK.jpg 308695 2009-11-18T21:17:54-07:00 1 In the movie "Shrek" the main character wins the heart of the princess by believing in himself despite the opinions of others. Shrek knows that he is not just an ugly, mean ogre; there is much more to him than that. By not doubting himself, Shrek saves the princess from her imprisonment and wins her heart. It is only by believing in himself that Shrek has the courage and self-confidence to succeed. image/jpeg Shrek_bus.jpg 243181 2006-08-21T10:49:05-06:00 3 image/jpeg Shrek_14x48.jpg 210550 Believe In Yourself application/x-pdf SHREK.pdf 4451444 image/jpeg SHREK_thumb.jpg 8040 20 image/jpeg SHREK.jpg 396588 2009-11-18T21:17:54-07:00 1 Earl was one of the many dedicated police officers that came to the rescue of so many people during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. On one of his routine calls of that fateful week, Earl came across a displaced mother with two small children and this newborn that was just days old. The mother was exhausted, could not walk one more step, and Earl stepped in to offer his assistance. He took the mother and her children, including the newborn baby pictured here, and rushed them to the hospital to be taken care of properly. Thanks to people like Earl who are constantly willing to give of themselves, many lives were saved that day. image/jpeg Katrna_bus.jpg 209565 2006-08-21T10:49:16-06:00 4 image/jpeg Katrina_14x48.jpg 195391 Caring application/x-pdf KATRINA.pdf 2040664 image/jpeg KATRINA_thumb.jpg 8242 21 image/jpeg KATRINA.jpg 286141 2009-11-18T21:17:54-07:00 1 Wayne Gretzky was called the "Great One" as a hockey player. He began skating at age two at his grandparents' farm near Brantford, Ontario. He showed his skill early and scored 378 goals in a youth league at age 10. Gretzky started his pro career in the World Hockey Association in 1978. After one season the National Hockey League absorbed the WHA and Gretzky made the league switch as part of the Edmonton Oilers. He very quickly became a superstar in the NHL, setting records at an unbelievable pace. He set an amazing record scoring 50 goals in 39 games in the 1981-82 season; tallied 92 goals in one season and posted a remarkable 215 points another season. He also led the Oilers to four Stanley Cups. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the NHL nine times. Gretzky was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in 1988 and introduced hockey to the southern California area. He finished his career with the New York Rangers in 1999 and still holds or shares 61 NHL records. Throughout his career, Gretzky conducted himself with class and grace and was a true gentleman off the ice. His love of the game showed in the way he played. "I love every part of (hockey)-skating, playing, (and) joking around with the guys in the dressing room," he said. Currently Gretzky is part-owner and head coach of the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes. image/jpeg Gretzky_bus.jpg 205992 2006-08-21T10:49:19-06:00 6 image/jpeg Gretzky_14x48.jpg 192659 Class And Grace application/x-pdf GRETSKY.pdf 3125314 image/jpeg GRETSKY_thumb.jpg 7905 22 image/jpeg GRETSKY.jpg 253927 2009-11-18T21:17:54-07:00 1 Winston Spencer Churchill was born on November 30, 1874, in England. He served in the British Army until 1899. The following year, Churchill began his long career in the government. Churchill was elected to various positions for the next several years. After the beginning of World War II, Churchill was appointed First Lord of the Admiralty. In early May, the former Prime Minister of England resigned and Churchill was appointed to the position by King George VI. England's army suffered many losses early on and Churchill faced a great deal of criticism. But one of the major contributions he made to eventual victory was his ability to inspire the British people to greater effort by making public broadcasts on significant occasions. A brilliant orator, he was a tireless source of strength to people experiencing the sufferings of the German bombing campaign. On October 29, 1941, Churchill made a speech at Harrow School which he attended as a youth. Part of the speech included the line, "Never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy." He also used the phrase, "Never, never, never give up" in his personal writing and correspondence. Churchill lost his bid for re-election in 1945 and shortly thereafter suffered his first stroke. He remained active in politics, returning to the Prime Minister position in 1951, until his health forced him to retire in 1956. Throughout his life he was an avid writer and even won the Nobel Prize for Literature. Sir Winston Churchill passed away on January 24, 1965. image/jpeg Churchill_bus.jpg 202711 2006-08-21T10:49:24-06:00 7 image/jpeg Churchill_14x48.jpg 163628 Commitment application/x-pdf CHURCHILL.pdf 2852126 image/jpeg CHURCHILL_thumb.jpg 8450 23 image/jpeg CHURCHILL.jpg 253573 2009-11-18T21:17:54-07:00 1 Mother Teresa was born on August 27, 1910 and trained to become a nun starting at age 18. After finishing her training, she took her vows and became Sister Teresa. From 1931 to 1948, she taught at St. Mary's High School in Calcutta, becoming Mother Teresa in 1937 after taking her Final Procession of Vows. However, her life changed when she was on a train ride to her annual retreat in 1946. During the ride, Mother Teresa said she received a calling from God to "serve him among the poorest of the poor." With permission from the Catholic Church, Mother Teresa began her own order, The Missionaries of Charity, to serve the poorest people in Calcutta. At first, she taught school in the street. Eventually, she opened shelters to help the dying, lepers and orphans. In 1979, Mother Teresa was given the Nobel Peace Prize. When she received the Nobel Prize, she was dressed in the same trademark sari she wore in the streets and convinced the committee to cancel a dinner in her honor, using the money instead to "feed 400 poor children for a year in India." Her description of the mission of The Missionaries of Charity when accepting the peace prize was: "to care for the hungry, the naked, the homeless, the crippled, the blind, the lepers, all those people who feel unwanted, unloved, uncared for throughout society, people that have become a burden to the society and are shunned by everyone." Mother Teresa passed away on September 5, 1997 after a lifetime of service and love to the "poorest of the poor." image/jpeg Teresa_bus.jpg 163010 2006-08-21T10:49:24-06:00 8 image/jpeg Teresa_14x48.jpg 126286 Compassion application/x-pdf MOTHER_TERESA.pdf 1845280 image/jpeg MOTHER_TERESA_thumb.jpg 7661 24 image/jpeg MOTHER_TERESA.jpg 212208 2009-11-18T21:17:54-07:00 1 The photograph captured the attention of the world. On June 5, 1989, a lone man stood in front of a column of tanks in Tiananmen Square. His act of peaceful defiance was captured on film and later made headlines after he slipped back into anonymity. There is a story behind the photograph. Chinese citizens assembled in Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China as a protest. What started small, a few workers and students, grew into over one million people who gathered for seven weeks in the spring of 1989. The gathering was mostly peaceful, until the early hours of June 4. The government struck back against the protestors. Government tanks rolled into Tiananmen Square killing hundreds of workers, students, doctors and children. On the next day, the lone man stood up to the tanks. Dressed simply in slacks and a white shirt, carrying what seemed to be shopping bags, he stood in the way of 18 tanks. The lead tank swerved to go around him; he moved to block it. Then he climbed on the tank and spoke briefly with the soldiers. As soon as he climbed down, onlookers pulled the peaceful protestor to safety. There have been discussions of who the anonymous man was, but we may never know for sure. However, his peaceful resistance is an image that will live in the memory of the world: One lone man courageously blocking a line of tanks. image/jpeg Tanks_bus.jpg 240487 2006-08-21T10:49:24-06:00 10 image/jpeg Tank_14x48.jpg 259594 Courage application/x-pdf TANKS.pdf 4843797 image/jpeg TANKS_thumb.jpg 7450 25 image/jpeg TANKS.jpg 294436 2009-11-18T21:17:54-07:00 1 Muhammad Ali was raised Cassius Clay in a small home in Louisville, Kentucky. From those humble beginnings neither he nor any observer at that time could have fathomed the path he would carve through life. A Golden Gloves champion at age 17, an Olympic gold medal at age 18, and an undefeated heavyweight champion at age 22. Spurred by the theft of his prized new bicycle, he was out to get the person responsible. Ali was venting his anger at the local gym, when the perceptive policeman Joe Martin admonished, “You better learn to box first.” And box he did. Within a week he had his first match and first win. This feisty 89-pound young man was ready to take on the world. And before his career in the ring ended, the world would know his name as the man crowned heavyweight champion three times—the greatest. Yet, his greatest fight has not been in the ring. Ironically, after beating the world’s toughest opponents, it was Parkinson’s disease that would prove to be his greatest foe. But in true Ali style, he met this challenge head on. Instead of shrinking from this difficulty he has stepped onto the world stage once more as a champion. His tireless work raising money to fight this debilitating disease has inspired thousands and endeared him to a new generation of admirers around the world. As he was in the ring, he remains in our eyes—the greatest. image/jpeg Ali_bus.jpg 132698 2006-08-21T10:49:31-06:00 11 image/jpeg Ali_14x48.jpg 105890 Courage application/x-pdf ALI.pdf 19978361 image/jpeg ALI_thumb.jpg 6913 26 image/jpeg ALI.jpg 228832 2009-11-18T21:17:54-07:00 1 A New York fireman who risked his life to save countless others on September 11, 2001. image/jpeg Firefighter_bus.jpg 214418 2006-08-21T10:49:31-06:00 12 image/jpeg Firefighter_14x48.jpg 180684 Courage application/x-pdf FIREMAN.pdf 3195030 image/jpeg FIREMAN_thumb.jpg 9147 27 image/jpeg FIREMAN.jpg 265305 2009-11-18T21:17:54-07:00 1 Michelle Kwan is a champion ice skater who has won five World Championships, nine United States Championships and two Olympic medals, in addition to countless other skating competitions. While she glides effortlessly across the ice, long hours of practice and dedication are behind each jump, twirl, and spin. Michelle began ice skating when she was five years old and quickly showed skill. However, to make the most of her abilities she skated several hours a day every day of the week. Before school, after school and weekends, she was at the ice rink. The cost of ice time and coaches quickly grew and her parents sold their home and purchased a much smaller one to find money to pay for her ice skating. When Michelle was 13, she performed at her first U.S. National Championships. After a disappointing performance, she vowed to work even harder and improve. She did. The next year, she finished second. From there she went on to win a silver medal at the 1998 Olympics and the first of her World Championships. Michelle still practices every day, demonstrating the dedication it takes to reach the top and stay there. image/jpeg Kwan_bus.jpg 191013 2006-08-21T10:49:31-06:00 13 image/jpeg Kwan_14x48.jpg 182847 Dedication application/x-pdf KWAN.pdf 2051796 image/jpeg KWAN_thumb.jpg 7709 28 image/jpeg KWAN.jpg 241324 2009-11-18T21:17:54-07:00 1 This picture was taken on the afternoon of September 11, 2001 as three New York firefighters raised an American flag at Ground Zero. image/jpeg Ground-Zero_bus.jpg 285039 2006-08-21T10:49:31-06:00 14 image/jpeg Ground-Zero_14x48.jpg 307011 Determination application/x-pdf GROUND_ZERO.pdf 4652320 image/jpeg GROUND_ZERO_thumb.jpg 8592 29 image/jpeg GROUND_ZERO.jpg 347348 2009-11-18T21:17:54-07:00 1 In September of 1990, when Brooke Ellison was 11 years old, she was hit by a car while walking home from her first day of 7th grade. The accident left her paralyzed from the neck down and dependent on a ventilator to breathe. Despite Brooke’s physical limitations, she has overcome many challenges and excelled academically. After scoring 1510 out of a possible 1600 on the SAT, Brooke was accepted to Harvard University. With the tireless help of her mother, Jean, who lived with her in the dorms for 4 years, Brooke graduated magna cum laude in 2000. Brooke said, “Life isn't always easy and we are never guaranteed that things will always go smoothly…It progresses with an almost constant series of challenges, but these obstacles are just detours that we have to take in order to meet our ultimate goals. No matter what sort of adversity or challenge you might face, you can always believe that, with hope, it can be conquered and, in the end, you will be stronger for it.” Brooke currently travels the country as a motivational speaker, has made numerous TV appearances, published an autobiography with her mother, and is the subject of a film for A&E, The Brooke Ellison Story, directed by Christopher Reeve. Brooke went back to the Kennedy School of Government for her Masters Degree in Public Policy and is now a Ph.D. candidate in political psychology at Stony Brook University. She is also a member of the board of directors of the National Organization on Disabilities. image/jpeg Harvard_bus.jpg 257366 2006-08-21T10:49:31-06:00 15 image/jpeg Harvard_14x48.jpg 239151 Determination application/x-pdf BROOKE_ELLISON.pdf 4104956 image/jpeg BROOKE_ELLISON_thumb.jpg 8543 30 image/jpeg BROOKE_ELLISON.jpg 337062 2009-11-18T21:17:54-07:00 1 Whoopi Goldberg was born in New York City in 1955, as Caryn Johnson. She spent the first years of her life in a public housing project in Manhattan. Over the course of a turbulent early life, she survived poverty, drug addiction, single motherhood and a stint on welfare to become one of America's most beloved entertainers. Whoopi also struggled with dyslexia and, as a result, dropped out of high school. "I knew I wasn't stupid, and I knew I wasn't dumb. My mother told me that. Everybody told me I wasn't stupid or dumb. If you read to me, I could tell you everything that you read. They didn't know what it was. They knew I wasn't lazy, but what was it?" When she was an adult, she finally found the reason for her reading struggles - dyslexia. As Whoopi once recounted, "I learned from a guy who was running a program and he had written a sentence on a board. And I said to him, 'You know, I can't read that.' And he said, 'Why not?' And I said, 'Because it doesn't make any sense to me.' So he said, 'Well, whatever you see, write exactly what you see underneath.' And so, he brought me to letters by coordinating what I saw to something called an A, or a B, or a C, or a D, and that was pretty cool." She said it still takes effort, but time and hard work has made it easier for her to read. image/jpeg Whoopi_bus.jpg 170107 2006-08-21T10:49:31-06:00 20 image/jpeg Whoopi_14x48.jpg 151545 Hard Work application/x-pdf WHOOPI.pdf 3519802 image/jpeg WHOOPI_thumb.jpg 6749 31 image/jpeg WHOOPI.jpg 233096 2009-11-18T21:17:54-07:00 1 Oral Lee Brown made a promise to a group of 23 East Oakland, Calif. first-graders in 1987, "Stay in school, and I'll send you to college." The realtor began saving immediately, putting $10,000 per year in a fund from her $40,000 salary. She also held fundraisers to raise the money. Ms. Brown did more than simply make a promise to the children; she became an active part of their lives. She became benefactor, mentor, and second mother to 23 first-graders. She began with regular visits, Saturday tutorials, and parent meetings. She tracked each child's attendance and grades; bought gifts; and purchased supplies. Ms. Brown took the students on recruiting trips to colleges and attended nine different high school graduations. She also accompanied each student to college. Nineteen of the students enrolled in college and three others went into trade schools. One student died at age 13. Several have already graduated from college. With her initial commitment to 23-first graders nearing completion, Ms. Brown has tackled another challenge. She recently "adopted" another class. This time, she is sponsoring 20 ninth graders from six different Oakland high schools. "Somebody has to train these kids. Somebody has to teach them, and if not me, who? If not now, when? We must do it. It's got to be done," said Ms. Brown. image/jpeg College_bus.jpg 193591 2006-08-21T10:49:31-06:00 21 image/jpeg College_14x48.jpg 164414 Helping Others application/x-pdf ORAL_LEE.pdf 2768568 image/jpeg ORAL_LEE_thumb.jpg 8514 32 image/jpeg ORAL_LEE.jpg 238652 2009-11-18T21:17:54-07:00 1 "If you would not be forgotten as soon as you're dead and rotten, either write things worth reading or do things worth the writing," said Benjamin Franklin. The United States has never forgotten Benjamin Franklin because he did both. He lived these words of wisdom by writing profusely and being a scientist, inventor, statesman, printer, philosopher and economist. Franklin was born on January 17, 1706. He attended school for only a few years before becoming an apprentice printer to his older brother at the age of 12. When his brother's paper was looking for original stories, Franklin was too young to submit articles. Therefore he created a fictional widow who slipped "her" stories under the door at night so no one knew who 'she' was. The stories were very popular. After several, Franklin admitted he wrote them, but his brother was not happy. The troubles continued to grow between the two and at age 17, Franklin ran away, which was illegal at the time. In Philadelphia, Franklin continued to be a print apprentice for many years. Later, he married and with his wife ran a print shop, book store and general store. Franklin thrived on work and eventually printed an almanac and a newspaper, contributing a great deal of the material himself. His paper carried the first political cartoon. In the 1730's and 1740's, he worked to improve life in Philadelphia. He was the force behind the first public hospital, lending library, fire-fighting company and fire insurance. He invented many things, including bifocals and a heat-efficient stove. He refused to take out patents so that the items would be available to all. In the 1750's, he was retired from the printing business, and was very interested in electricity. In June 1752, he conducted the kite experiment. He suspected that lightning was an electrical current in nature and wanted to see if it would pass through metal. He put a metal key on a kite to prove his theory. This helped him realize the danger in lightning and led to another invention still in use today: the lightning rod. Also, in the 1750's, Franklin became very interested in politics. He served as the Colonial representative for several states in England from 1757 to 1775. After his return to the colonies, he started working actively for independence. Franklin participated on a committee of five that helped to draft the Declaration of Independence, where he contributed a great deal. In 1776, Franklin signed the Declaration, and then went to France to represent the United States. In his late seventies, Franklin returned to America and served as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention where he signed the Constitution. One of his last public acts was writing an anti-slavery treatise in 1789. He stands alone as the only person to have signed all four of the documents which helped to create the United States: the Declaration of Independence (1776), the Treaty of Alliance, Amity, and Commerce with France (1778), the Treaty of Peace between England, France, and the United States (1782), and the Constitution (1787). Franklin died on April 17, 1790 at the age of 84. Twenty-thousand people attended the funeral of the man who was called, "the harmonious human multitude." No other individual was more involved in the birth of our nation. His legacy is filled with act after act of bold curiosity, brash risk-taking, and raw ingenuity. image/jpeg Franklin_bus.jpg 169915 2006-08-21T10:49:31-06:00 23 image/jpeg Franklin_14x48.jpg 137068 Ingenuity application/x-pdf FRANKLIN.pdf 2540324 image/jpeg FRANKLIN_thumb.jpg 6746 33 image/jpeg FRANKLIN.jpg 218250 2009-11-18T21:17:54-07:00 1 Alexandra Scott was born on January 18, 1996 to parents Jay and Liz. Two days before her first birthday, she was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, an aggressive childhood cancer. When Alex was four, she was inspired to have a lemonade stand with the goal of raising money to help "her hospital" and in July of 2000, Alex donated over $2,000 to Connecticut Children's Medical Center. Alex and her family moved to Philadelphia in early 2001 to pursue new treatment options. She continued her lemonade stand and her third year she raised $20,000 for Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in honor of her friend Toireasa, who had recently lost her battle with neuroblastoma. In 2004, Alex set a goal of raising $1 million for her lemonade fund. With the help of friends, family and strangers who hosted lemonade stands in all 50 states and a few other countries, Alex's goal was met. Sadly, on August 1, 2004, Alex passed away. However, before Alex passed away, she set another goal: to raise $5 million for pediatric cancer research in 2005. Alex's Lemonade Stand will continue as a living testament to the inspiration one young girl provided. image/jpeg Lemonade_bus.jpg 251883 2006-08-21T10:49:31-06:00 24 image/jpeg Lemonade_14x48.jpg 202133 Inspiration application/x-pdf ALEX_SCOTT.pdf 2820197 image/jpeg ALEX_SCOTT_thumb.jpg 9614 34 image/jpeg ALEX_SCOTT.jpg 288843 2009-11-18T21:17:54-07:00 1 As the idea of this billboard campaign was being created, we wanted to focus on those people that were making a difference in our communities. It just so happened that our Creative Director, Jay, took his car to have it repaired. Jay searched for an “honest” mechanic and Mike Masiello was highly recommended by the people that knew him well. After Mike spent nearly 3 hours trying to fix Jay’s car, he realized there was nothing he could do. The problem was unfixable. Jay suspected that news, and reluctantly asked how much the diagnosis was going to cost him. Mike simply said, “I couldn’t fix it. I won’t take your money.” As Jay stood there, in a small shop on Long Island, he knew that people like Mike were exactly who we were looking for in this campaign. Everyday Heroes. By his neighbors and peers, Mike is known as the “Mother Teresa” of the automotive world. He’s an honest guy, making an honest living, and never tires of helping those around him. image/jpeg Mechanic_bus.jpg 216603 2006-08-21T10:49:31-06:00 26 image/jpeg Mechanic_14x48.jpg 214009 Integrity application/x-pdf MECHANIC.pdf 3353690 image/jpeg MECHANIC_thumb.jpg 8753 35 image/jpeg MECHANIC.jpg 276313 2009-11-18T21:17:54-07:00 1 When Kermit the Frog sprang from the imagination of creator Jim Henson over 50 years ago the world was given a new friend whose endearing qualities continue to charm each succeeding generation. Remarkably, most never really outgrow the connection with Kermit. His personality transcends mere toys and action figures because Kermit is someone we know. We’ve lived along with him through good days and bad and observed how he keeps a perspective on whatever comes his way. Green and fuzzy, this delightful character has become part of our lives. Jim Henson gives an insight into the comfortable world Kermit draws us into, “There is a sense of our characters caring for each other. A positive feeling, a positive view of life. That’s the key to everything we do.” Kermit is also a dreamer and an inspiration for our own goals and aspirations. After all, if a Frog can accomplish so much, we can do something too! We came to know Kermit the Frog when Sesame Street introduced him and many other enduring characters in 1969. Yet, the beginnings trace back to Jim Henson’s childhood where his family was very supportive of his creativity. In particular, his maternal grandmother who was an avid painter, quilter and needle worker encouraged young Jim to use his imagination and to take delight in the world around him. Since then, the TV shows, movies and personal appearances around the world have made Kermit worthy of star status. Yet, he remains as loveable as the first time we encountered him. Perhaps a clue to Kermit’s humility comes from a line in his well known song, ‘It ain’t easy being green.” As we grow and change it’s nice to have a hero that stays the same—one that serves as a real inspiration to “Live Your Dreams.” image/jpeg Kermit_bus.jpg 190635 2006-08-21T10:49:31-06:00 29 image/jpeg Kermit_14x48.jpg 160758 Live Your Dreams application/x-pdf KERMIT.pdf 3048841 image/jpeg KERMIT_thumb.jpg 8280 36 image/jpeg KERMIT.jpg 246498 2009-11-18T21:17:54-07:00 1 "My son Justin was born with Cerebral Palsy. At first we were worried about how he would adjust to being different from those around him, but Justin's determination, warm smile, and zest for life have brought admiration and appreciation from everyone with whom he comes in contact." Justin's first love is baseball. For several years he has played with the Miracle League, which is a league of kids with physical and mental challenges that have the opportunity, thanks to a specialized field provided by various donors, to play baseball. They have "angels" that help push their wheelchairs along the bases, parents and families constantly cheering them on, and fans that come from miles around just to see them play. No one keeps score, everyone gets to bat and everyone wins. "When Justin is on the baseball field, he is part of a team like all of his friends and is treated just like any other kid. Through this experience, he has been able to discover his unique talents instead of focusing on his disabilities. He has realized that his disease does not have to limit what he can accomplish. Justin is incredibly strong and he has taught me that life is a journey with endless opportunities to become more than what we are." image/jpeg Baseball_bus.jpg 239615 2006-08-21T10:49:31-06:00 32 image/jpeg Baseball_14x48.jpg 228743 Opportunity application/x-pdf MIRACLE_LEAGUE.pdf 4471652 image/jpeg MIRACLE_LEAGUE_thumb.jpg 8082 37 image/jpeg MIRACLE_LEAGUE.jpg 360875 2009-11-18T21:17:55-07:00 1 Thomas Alva Edison was born on Feb. 11, 1847 in Milan, Ohio, the youngest of seven children. As a child, Edison had an insatiable curiosity about how things worked and was a voracious reader. He ended up being home schooled when the teacher couldn't handle his curiosity. When he was 11, he decided to read every book in his local library. His parents convinced him to be more selective instead. He was very interested in books on science. Edison suffered hearing loss due to contracting scarlet fever and possibly being struck by a train conductor in his early teens. He left home to seek his fortune at age 15. He had already trained as a telegraph operator and traveled extensively working in telegraph stations. As he traveled, he began to invent. He returned home briefly in 1868 and then moved to Boston to work for Western Union for several months. During this time, he met many other inventors and scientists as Boston was considered the hub of the scientific, educational, and cultural universe. Edison then decided to move to New York City since it was the financial center of the United States. While he was homeless and hungry, Edison fixed a broken stock ticker for a panicked office manager. He was hired on the spot to do more repairs. In 1877, he patented the first phonograph. He followed that with the development of the first practical incandescent light bulb in 1879, after trying 10,000 times. And if that wasn't enough, in 1884, Edison introduced the world's first economically viable system of centrally generating and distributing electric light, heat, and power. In other words, he developed the first power system that could deliver electricity at reasonable cost throughout a city. Edison also created the first silent film in 1903 and later worked on combining audio with the silent moving pictures. In all, Edison obtained 1,093 patents. He died on October 18, 1931 at the age of 84. His optimism led him to try new ideas and keep trying despite the odds against him. image/jpeg Edison_bus.jpg 183519 2006-08-21T10:49:31-06:00 33 image/jpeg Edison_14x48.jpg 169193 Optimism application/x-pdf EDISON.pdf 3134787 image/jpeg EDISON_thumb.jpg 8168 38 image/jpeg EDISON.jpg 282397 2009-11-18T21:17:55-07:00 1 Marlon Shirley saw his fair share of struggles as a young boy, living with his mother who was gone a lot and moved frequently to keep trouble from catching up with her. Marlon was five years old when he was picked up by social services and dropped off at an orphanage where he began the "pinball life of an institutional orphan.” In 1984, Marlon lost his foot in an accident with a lawnmower. The caretaker of the orphanage was letting the kids jump on an off the riding lawnmower while he mowed the lawn around the facility. Marlon slipped and the caretaker ran over his leg where the damage was done. Marlon later woke up with an amputation above the ankle. Marlon bounced around to various foster homes over the years until he was adopted by a family from Utah in 1987. He took the Shirley’s last name and feels blessed to have been found by them. Marlon struggled through high school, trying to overcome the habits and tendencies of his past—of simply trying to survive. Mid-way through his senior year in 1997, close to flunking out and humiliated, Marlon had had it. He decided to do something with his life and signed up to participate in the Simplot Games in Idaho, the largest open high school indoor track meet west of the Mississippi. He hoped to get offered a college scholarship, but the odds were against him. Marlon had little track experience and was hobbling on crutches due to a fractured bone in his leg he obtained from dunking a basketball a few weeks earlier. Marlon felt he had to do it. He entered the high jump, where he hopped over on his good leg and dove headfirst over the bar. He cleared 6’6”, which just happened to be the Paralympic world record. A month later, Marlon competed in the Disabled Sports USA track meet in California, where he left $13,000 richer. Marlon Shirley has endured many situations which would have brought the average person to shambles. He has not only found a way to prevail, but has also found a way to be a world class athlete. He owns two world records: the 100-meter dash and the long jump. In 2000, at the Para-Olympic Games in Sydney he won the 100m dash and took silver in the high jump. Since then, not only has he become the first and only lower leg amputee to break the 11.00 seconds mark (10.97), Marlon has also run the fastest 200m dash to date. At the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Marlon Shirley won the Paralympic 100-meter gold medal for the second straight time. He has been called “the world’s fastest amputee.” Marlon said, "It's something I train for every single day. It's almost just like an automatic movement of my body springing down the track. We all have our own type of disabilities—mine just happens to be physical, and you can see it very easily when I run. But you can't tell it by the time I get done racing." Shirley's prosthetic foot is made of carbon fiber titanium, materials developed in the aerospace industry. He is clearly testing the limits of what a prosthetic foot can do. "The feet? They've lasted me forever," he said. "I remember running around on crutches just like I'd run around if I had another foot," he said. "I definitely never looked at myself any differently than anyone else." Marlon is a 10-time World Champion and Olympic Champion. He is the spokesperson for the Paralympic Movement and other sponsors. Marlon’s biggest and most desirable goal is to be the first amputee to qualify for the 100m dash at the US Nationals against athletes with all limbs. image/jpeg Runner_bus.jpg 192815 2006-08-21T10:49:31-06:00 34 image/jpeg Runner_14x48.jpg 181438 Overcoming application/x-pdf MARLON_SHIRLEY.pdf 3400868 image/jpeg MARLON_SHIRLEY_thumb.jpg 8022 39 image/jpeg MARLON_SHIRLEY.jpg 258526 2009-11-18T21:17:55-07:00 1 Shaq, as the world knows him, is one of the most dominating professional basketball players in NBA history. Towering at over seven feet, he has shattered records and backboards from the moment he arrived in the big leagues. The numerous honors he has won include: three NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers, MVP in each of those finals, led the league in field goal percentage five times, and was named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history. No small feat given the competition in this world-class environment. There is another accomplishment that is less well-known but extremely important to Shaq. When he was drafted to the pros from Louisiana State University in his junior year, he made a promise that he would return to finish his degree. One might wonder why he would worry about graduating since he had such a lucrative career and did not appear to need a diploma to be more successful in life. But he had made a commitment to his mother, his school and himself. And he likes to keep his promises. It was not easy—he attended 9 summer school sessions and finally reached his goal of graduating in December of 2000 with a BA in General Studies and a minor in Political Science. Unfortunately, the ceremony in Louisiana was scheduled on a game night. In a clear demonstration of what was really important he got permission to miss the game—though at a financial cost to him—and walked through the line to mark this important milestone in his life. A promise kept and statement made that life really is more than a game. image/jpeg Shaq_bus.jpg 160473 2006-08-21T10:49:31-06:00 36 image/jpeg Shaq_14x48.jpg 150061 Perseverance application/x-pdf SHAQ.pdf 2591757 image/jpeg SHAQ_thumb.jpg 7645 40 image/jpeg SHAQ.jpg 229491 2009-11-18T21:17:55-07:00 1 Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States of America. He guided the United States through the Civil War and issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, which freed slaves in the Confederate States. The Emancipation Proclamation led to the adoption of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution which abolished slavery throughout the U.S. President Lincoln came from humble beginnings. He was born on February 12, 1809 and though Abraham had no formal schooling, he loved to read. Abraham's passion was in government and law so he studied law informally and passed the bar examination in 1836. Lincoln first ran for public office in the Illinois State Legislature in 1832, but was defeated. He persevered and ran again in 1834. He served four consecutive terms in the State Legislature before practicing law full-time. In 1846, he re-entered politics and was elected to U.S. House of Representatives. After losing his re-election, Lincoln practiced law until he ran for the U.S. Senate in 1854 and lost. Lincoln lost again in 1855 for a different Senate seat. However he gained national recognition and was nominated to run for President in 1860. President Lincoln was elected but before he took the oath of office on March 4, 1861, several southern states seceded from the United States. He raised an army following the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter and fought to save the United States as a union. President Lincoln was re-elected in 1864 and oversaw the Confederate States surrender on April 9, 1865. He proposed a speedy reunion between the Northern and Southern States, but was shot by John Wilkes Booth on April 14 at Ford's Theatre. President Lincoln died the morning of April 15, 1865. image/jpeg Lincoln_bus.jpg 167649 2006-08-21T10:49:31-06:00 37 image/jpeg Lincoln_14x48.jpg 140619 Persistence application/x-pdf LINCOLN.pdf 1953644 image/jpeg LINCOLN_thumb.jpg 7572 41 image/jpeg LINCOLN.jpg 237687 2009-11-18T21:17:55-07:00 1 Bethany Hamilton began surfing as a child and at age 11 participated in her first competition. Her plans of becoming a pro surfer were seemingly ended at age 13 when she was attacked by a 14-foot tiger shark on October 31, 2003 while surfing near Tunnels Beach in Hawaii. She lost her left arm just below her shoulder and miraculously survived the attack. Within months, Bethany was back on her surfboard. She continues to pursue her dream of becoming a professional surfer and has entered numerous contests. She won 5th place at the 2004 National Scholastic Surfing Association Nationals Championships, has made the finals in several other events, and has won three contests. Her determination to rise above adversity continues to inspire the people around her. image/jpeg Surfer_bus.jpg 189399 2006-08-21T10:49:31-06:00 39 image/jpeg Surfer_14x48.jpg 176922 Rising Above application/x-pdf BETHANY_HAMILTON.pdf 1932484 image/jpeg BETHANY_HAMILTON_thumb.jpg 7614 42 image/jpeg BETHANY_HAMILTON.jpg 250844 2009-11-18T21:17:55-07:00 1 In High School, Brooks Dame had a friend named Jessica who was diagnosed with Lupus. Thanks to generous donors, Jessica's life was spared. That experience really stuck with Brooks. He said, "I had grown up with Jessica and it really got me thinking. There are a lot of people in this world that need a hand or help in one form or another. If I was sick and someone could donate bone marrow to help save my life, I'd really appreciate that. I've just been so blessed with small little miracles throughout my life that I thought maybe I could help someone out with a small little miracle of their own." A few years later, Brooks decided to get over his fear of needles and sign up for the bone marrow registry. A year went by before Brooks received the fateful phone call informing him they had found a match for his bone marrow. The man in need was in his 30's, had a wife and a few small children, and was desperately fighting a battle with Leukemia. Brooks said, "I was nervous, but I thought a lot about that man. This was his last chance at surviving, which really helped me make the decision to donate." After a series of tests (and more needles), Brooks flew to a hospital in Denver for the bone marrow donation. He said, "The procedure is dangerous and very painful, but I knew it was the right thing to do. I had a rather speedy recovery and the more I thought about that man and his family, the more I hoped that my small sacrifice, in some way, made a difference." image/jpeg Marrow_bus.jpg 177637 2006-08-21T10:49:31-06:00 40 image/jpeg Marrow_14x48.jpg 166227 Sacrifice application/x-pdf BROOKS_DAME.pdf 2581978 image/jpeg BROOKS_DAME_thumb.jpg 7919 43 image/jpeg BROOKS_DAME.jpg 251155 2009-11-18T21:17:55-07:00 1 Mohandas K. Gandhi was born in 1869 to Hindu parents in the state of Gujarat in Western India. He entered an arranged marriage with Kasturbai Makanji when both were 13 years old. His family later sent him to London to study law, and in 1891 he was admitted to the Inner Temple, and called to the bar. In Southern Africa he worked ceaselessly to improve the rights of the immigrant Indians. It was there that he developed his creed of passive resistance against injustice, satyagraha, meaning truth force, and was frequently jailed as a result of the protests that he led. Before he returned to India with his wife and children in 1915, he had radically changed the lives of Indians living in Southern Africa. Back in India, it was not long before he was taking the lead in the long struggle for independence from Britain. He never wavered in his unshakable belief in nonviolent protest and religious tolerance. When Muslim and Hindu compatriots committed acts of violence, whether against the British who ruled India, or against each other, he fasted until the fighting ceased. Independence, when it came in 1947, was not a military victory, but a triumph of human will. To Gandhi's despair, however, the country was partitioned into Hindu India and Muslim Pakistan. The last two months of his life were spent trying to end the appalling violence which ensued, leading him to fast to the brink of death, an act which finally quelled the riots. In January 1948, at the age of 79, he was killed by an assassin as he walked through a crowded garden in New Delhi to take evening prayers. image/jpeg Gandhi_bus.jpg 170388 2006-08-21T10:49:31-06:00 41 image/jpeg Gandhi_14x48.jpg 149246 Soul application/x-pdf GANDHI.pdf 2649858 image/jpeg GANDHI_thumb.jpg 7496 44 image/jpeg GANDHI.jpg 243965 2009-11-18T21:17:55-07:00 1 Christopher Reeve was first introduced to movie audiences as Clark Kent in "Superman" in 1978. He followed his Superman fame by acting in many more movies, including the "Superman" sequels, and numerous theater productions. He was extremely busy in the activist arena, championing causes for the environment and the arts among others. However, in 1995, Reeve's life changed dramatically. The active sportsman loved riding horses and participating in jumping competitions. At an equestrian competition in May of 1995, Reeve was thrown from his horse. The injury was severe. He broke two of the vertebrae in his neck and was paralyzed from the neck down. Reeve's prognosis was grim: he wouldn't be able to walk again or even breathe without the help of a ventilator. Rather than give up, Reeve became determined to beat paralysis and the spinal cord injuries. His previous fervor for many causes coalesced into one: spinal cord injuries and other nervous system disorders such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Reeve, along with his wife Dana, set up a paralysis foundation to raise money for research and also to give support to others in similar situations. He continued to act and became a director with several movies to his credit. Reeve passed away on October 10, 2004, after suffering heart failure, but his strength will never be forgotten. image/jpeg Reeve_bus.jpg 141612 2006-08-21T10:49:31-06:00 44 image/jpeg Reeve_14x48.jpg 115182 Strength application/x-pdf SUPERMAN.pdf 2060317 image/jpeg SUPERMAN_thumb.jpg 6836 45 image/jpeg SUPERMAN.jpg 248433 2009-11-18T21:17:55-07:00 1 The Incredibles is a delightful film depicting a family thrown into crisis by a series of mishaps that put a strain on them personally and as a family. Each character has something to deal with-the dad was a superhero and now must work like "normal" people do and out of the limelight. Mom is doing her best to hold things together in their more confined environment as everyday citizens. The children are a little confused about their powers and how to be "normal" in a world that is often more easily dealt with as super heroes. In the end, a world-threatening emergency gives them impetus to shed their human identities and rise to the roles they were meant to fill. Each individual brings their unique talents to bear against a formidable enemy. In the process their personal problems fade and their family becomes an unconquerable united front. Teamwork is not only a good idea but is critical to their survival and that of earth's inhabitants. image/jpeg Incredibles_bus.jpg 286035 2006-08-21T10:49:31-06:00 45 image/jpeg Incredibles_14x48.jpg 240346 Teamwork application/x-pdf INCREDIBLES.pdf 3670608 image/jpeg INCREDIBLES_thumb.jpg 9051 46 image/jpeg INCREDIBLES.jpg 342053 2009-11-18T21:17:55-07:00 1 Picture taken at a candlelight vigil at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, on September 12, 2001. image/jpeg Girl_bus.jpg 199037 2006-08-21T10:49:31-06:00 46 image/jpeg Girl_14x48.jpg 192574 Unity application/x-pdf UNITY.pdf 2913522 image/jpeg UNITY_thumb.jpg 8162 47 image/jpeg UNITY.jpg 253787 2009-11-18T21:17:55-07:00 1 Despite losing his vision at the age of 13, Erik Weihenmayer has become one of the celebrated and accomplished athletes in the world. Re-defining what it means to be blind, Erik has transformed the image of blindness and opened up the minds of people around the world. He has never let his blindness interfere with his passion for an exhilarating and fulfilling life. Erik was first introduced to rock climbing at a camp for blind teenagers and soon was climbing more difficult mountains. After he moved to Arizona, he decided to climb Denali in Alaska… and did so. At 20,320 it’s the highest peak in North America. The challenges grew for Erik. He climbed the tallest mountains in South America and Africa and then set his sights on Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world. On May 25, 2001, Erik reached the top of Everest and stood at 29,035 feet. He was the first blind person to summit Everest. At the age of 34, Erik became one of less than 100 individuals to climb all of the Seven Summits - the highest peaks on each of the seven continents. He completed this incredible accomplishment on September 5, 2002 when he stood on top of Mt. Kosciusko in Australia. Erik continues to climb today, and more importantly demonstrates to others that blindness does not limit. In late 2004, he climbed with the blind founder and six blind students from the Tibetan school, Braille Without Borders. They hiked to 21,000 feet on a peak on the north side on Mount Everest; the highest altitude ever achieved by blind teenagers. For more information about Erik and what he’s doing, visit www.touchthetop.com image/jpeg Everest_bus.jpg 178214 2006-08-21T10:49:31-06:00 47 image/jpeg Everest_14x48.jpg 162284 Vision application/x-pdf EVEREST.pdf 2279344 image/jpeg EVEREST_thumb.jpg 7588 48 image/jpeg EVEREST.jpg 233850 2009-11-18T21:17:55-07:00 1 Shifra Mincer (in her own words) I was raised in New York City where I saw the homeless shivering from cold every winter. In sixth grade, a teacher offered to bring some students to a homeless shelter after school. I went with my friends and the teacher for several weeks, but when they stopped going together I continued to volunteer. Because I knew how to sew, I was asked to help out with the sewing kit if any guests requested some repairs. Throughout high school I continued to come each week after school, setting up my sewing kit that had now grown quite large. I got to know the guests who came regularly and I also got to know their clothes: the jackets, the shirts, the pants, and the shoes that were given to me with gaping holes and sagging seams. In high school I started a sewing club with my friend and we taught our fellow students how to sew. We made heart-shaped pillows for sick children and the elderly. In college I continue to volunteer at our fully student run homeless shelter, UNILU. Volunteer work has taught me to appreciate my own talents and the gifts that I was given. With my own hands as a young girl I had the power to repair someone's coat and keep him warm. Every time it rained I would think about the umbrellas I had sewn and suddenly I would appreciate that I was lucky enough to have a home. In the future I hope to continue helping others as much as I can. It is the most fulfilling and most important thing I have ever done. image/jpeg Sewing_bus.jpg 160005 2006-08-21T10:49:31-06:00 48 image/jpeg Sewing_14x48.jpg 156297 Volunteering application/x-pdf SHIFRA_MINCER.pdf 1986580 image/jpeg SHIFRA_MINCER_thumb.jpg 8317 49 image/jpeg SHIFRA_MINCER.jpg 241375 2009-11-18T21:17:55-07:00