Featuring Appearances by
Olivia Samples
Olivia Samples is in her third and final year studying public relations and women’s and gender studies at Simpson College. She is involved on campus as a sexual assault advocate and advertising director and writer for the college newspaper. She also interns for Yoga For First Responders. Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, Olivia is beginning to call Des Moines home.
Steve Danielson
Steve Danielson is a 19-year veteran of the Register Media advertising department. Prior to his career with the Register, Steve was in the broadcasting business as both an on-air talent and in advertising sales. He is a member of the Greater Carlisle Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and a graduate of the 2016 Warren County Economic Development Leadership Institute. A father of four and grandfather of two, Steve is an avid Cyclone fan.
Eric Hanson
Eric Hanson has been telling stories on KCCI-TV for 16 years, many of which have been about characters around our home state. Eric’s alarm clock rings at 2:45 a.m. to anchor KCCI’s morning news. Later, he works on his "This is Iowa" stories, which have earned six national awards and five Emmys. Eric grew up on a farm between Roland and Story City, graduated from Wartburg College and reported in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and Waterloo before returning home to central Iowa. He lives in West Des Moines with his wife, son and daughter.
Esam Boraey
Esam Boraey is a human rights activist working for freedom and democracy in the Middle East. This passion led him to play a key role in the Egyptian revolution of 2011, which helped overthrow Hosni Mubarak. Esam taught classes and studied for his master’s degree in international relations at Cairo University before leaving for the U.S. In 2013, Esam was honored as a Freedom Fighter by Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood. He has received accolades from many organizations in the Middle East for his work.
Jack Schuler
Jack Schuler is an English teacher at Abraham Lincoln High School, where he assists with GSA and theater activities. Born in Streator, Illinois, Jack attended Briar Cliff University, graduating in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in theatre and enlisting in the Marine Corps in 2006. Upon discharge, he went back to Briar Cliff and earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education. Jack is active in politics, holding positions in the Iowa Democratic Party, assisting with campaigns and becoming possibly the first openly transgender member of the Electoral College.
Agenda
October 14, 2016
Homecoming: Olivia Samples - 'The perfect senior year'
Moving schools, let alone states, wasn’t part of Olivia Samples’ perfect senior year. But the tragedy that was losing out on her perfect senior year taught her one of the most important lessons of her life.
October 14, 2016
Homecoming: Steve Danielson - 'When a car is more than a car'
Steve Danielson is on a journey. He’s not sure where it will end. But he knows he’ll never forget his son’s Black Mercury Sable.
October 14, 2016
Homecoming: Eric Hanson - 'How living rooms are really keys to the world'
Eric Hansen has been coming into homes as a morning news anchor for almost two decades. If there’s one thing he knows for sure, it’s that the most interesting part of his job might be visiting living rooms, chatting with inhabitants and telling their stories.
October 14, 2016
Homecoming: Esam Boraey - 'You can bring home with you'
Esam Boraey was born in Egypt. This is the story of why he can never go back.
October 14, 2016
Homecoming: Jack Schuler - 'Your body, your home'
Jack Schuler always knew he was different and that his body never felt quite right; he just didn’t know why.