Catch up with Bellevue West graduate Matthew Hooker and see what he's been up to since graduating....
Bellevue Alumni Association - Alumni Spotlight:
Matthew Hooker, Bellevue West Class of 2001
Q: What was your most memorable experience in high school?
A: Being a part of the T-Bird Basketball program during the 2000 Varsity Basketball Championship.
Q: Who was a teacher, coach, or staff member who significantly impacted you?
A: Mr. Mueller Math/Swim Coach, was truly as authentic as they came! He took his job seriously but was able to go about it in a way that showed me you can like math and still have fun.
Q: What activities, clubs, or sports were you involved in during high school, and how did they influence your path after graduation?
A: Marching Band, Basketball and JROTC. All 3 of these programs I was involved with from Freshman to Senior year and required more than "minimum" to excel. There was the normal schoolwork and then my mornings and or evenings were busy with the extracurriculars that required sacrifice and a discipline that didn't come naturally to me. I went to UNL for my undergraduate and was involved in ROTC for 2 years and was offered a scholarship in my junior year of college. I was a distinguished graduate of the Air Force field training process. I have been a basketball coach for over 20 years after graduating high school. I never picked up another instrument after high school, but the commitment Mr. Braasch (BAND DIRECTOR) required was something that benefits me to this day. The experience of winning regional and national marching band competitions was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and got me addicted to winning.
Q: What do you do for a living?
A: I am a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and own my own practice in the Blackstone Omaha area. I worked for many of the largest investment and insurance companies in the area for 15 years before going out on my own. Why I choose the financial industry is the end results of A LOT of trial and error professionally:) I love numbers and always learning something new but I need people in my day-to-day life to feel fulfilled, so that's what keeps me waking up every day excited and motivated. I am blessed beyond my wildest dreams. I have been recognized as the "BEST OF BELLEVUE" financial advisor for 4 years in a row....before moving out of Bellevue!
Q: What has been your proudest achievement since leaving high school?
A: My Family. My wife, three kids, a dog, and a beautiful home in Fontenelle Forest.
Q: Tell us about your family.
A: I have been married for 9 years to my wife Sarah and have three kids Dreson (11), Tenlie (8), and Augustine (6). My sisters and parents also still live in Bellevue and one in Papillion, so I am blessed to see extended family often.
Q: What advice would you give to current students in Bellevue who are trying to figure out their future paths?
A: Use your experience in High School and thereafter to find out who you are and what your interests are, and do not limit your experience or development for the pursuit of being liked/cool.
Matthew’s Favorites…..
Movie: The Matrix
Book: Freakonomics
Song: HEY YA, Outkast
Food: Pizza with all the meats
Bellevue Restaurants: The Special and Lums
Showing 1 reaction
Sign in with