On May 1, Systems Unlimited held its beloved Awards Celebration sponsored by MidWestOne. It is a night for both the people we serve and staff to dress up and enjoy an evening filled with dancing, connection, and celebration of the many accomplishments achieved by the people we serve.
The celebration is divided into two parts: the Awards Ceremony and the Prom. During the Awards Ceremony, several people we serve are nominated for the Milestone Award. These individuals have either achieved lifelong goals or overcome significant challenges in their lives. Those selected for the award are invited to the stage to accept their recognition and share a few words about their journey.
This year, we were honored to present the Milestone Award to 10 people in our services. Here are a few of their stories:
Jerry Pledge
Knowing Jerry is like knowing a local celebrity. Whether you know him for his legendary dance moves at Hazzard County or his smiling face at Hy-Vee, one thing is clear: he has a natural gift for making anyone’s day better simply by being in the room.
In the past year, Jerry learned that he was prediabetic. For someone who values his health as much as he does, this was difficult news to receive. However, Jerry did not let it stop him. He worked closely with staff to learn about healthy eating, and what began as a learning process soon became a set of lifestyle habits he now applies on his own. He learned to cook and now prepares more of his meals independently. After months of hard work, Jerry successfully reversed that diagnosis, a direct result of his determination and desire to succeed.
Scott Wieser
For many years, the street Scott lives on did not have a sidewalk, making it difficult for him to navigate outside in his wheelchair and for his housemates who also need level surfaces. Recognizing that this issue affected not only him but many others on his street, Scott chose to advocate to the city for a sidewalk to be built.
After years of persistence through emails and advocacy, the city built a sidewalk this year. Scott’s initiative has made a meaningful impact on the community by improving safety and accessibility for pedestrians and for individuals with disabilities who live on that street.
Cliff Hines:
Cliff moved into our services in January 2025 after spending two years in a nursing home. Before that, he had experienced homelessness for most of his adult life. From the moment he arrived, Cliff settled in quickly and naturally found his place in the home. Both his roommates and staff genuinely enjoy his presence.
Cliff often expresses a deep sense of happiness and relief, sharing how much it means to finally feel safe, stable, and at home. Since moving in, he has made meaningful progress toward greater independence. He secured a janitorial position and received job coaching through Employment Systems.
Cliff has a remarkable ability to brighten any room. He is known for his constant smile and great sense of humor, often making others laugh with ease. Spending time with Cliff is always a positive experience, and his presence has become a valued part of the home. We feel fortunate to have him in our services and in his home.
Mary Brown:
Mary set a goal to become healthier, a goal many of us can relate to and recognize as challenging. Since the beginning of this year, she has taken that goal seriously and shown a strong commitment to making meaningful changes. Mary has worked hard to improve her daily habits by making healthier food choices, increasing her physical activity, and following a structured routine.
Through consistency and determination, she has successfully lost weight, improved her overall health, and remained motivated. What stands out most is Mary’s perseverance and growing sense of accountability. She takes pride in her progress and is becoming more confident in her ability to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
During this night, we also honor community members that go above and beyond working with Systems. This years award winners of the Friends of Systems award went to JVA, Dr. John Manak, and Alpha Sigma Phi.
Thank you to everyone who attended and help make this celebration one to remember.
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