“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.” – Muhammad Ali
The motto of the United States Air Force is “Aim High ... Fly-Fight-Win.” Spend just a few moments with 2000 Maine-Endwell graduate and Air Force Veteran Jonathan Wanglund, and you’ll find a man who’s been living by this motto from the moment he stepped foot in Spartan Country. Aiming high to better both himself and others – fighting for the rights and benefits of those who came before him – and winning for hundreds of veterans in his community – Wanglund lives a life of service. Whether it’s serving as a cognitive behavioral coach, or as the Regional Manager for non-profit Clear Path for Veterans – Wanglund spends every day helping others.
“Service to others was something I learned from my parents from a young age, and it followed me onto in my military career and my career after the military. I knew after my service ended in the military that I wanted to keep working and helping people. Thankfully, I had committed a lot of time and dedication to my education while I was serving on Active Duty and had the opportunity to utilize my education to help others after my military career ended,” said Wanglund.
When Wanglund graduated high school, he knew a military path was in his future. Following his time in college, not long after the attacks on the World Trade Center, he’d follow that mission. Joining the United States Air Force at age 20, this Spartan Grad would lead a military career spanning 12 years, taking him all over the globe.
“I learned so much and met so many wonderful people throughout my career that I still keep in contact with to this day. I served all over the world and was deployed overseas 4 times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. I was stationed in Texas, Missouri, South Carolina, Oklahoma, and South Korea and was deployed to: The United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Iraq, and Qatar,” said Wanglund.
He continued, “The experiences I took away was about honor, service, commitment, and dedication to all that you do in life. I had so many opportunities to see new places and cultures and it taught me so much about the world and my outlook on life. My service in the military gave me so many skills and tools that I have used in all aspects of my personal and professional life,” said Wanglund.
Throughout his time with the Air Force, Wanglund worked with various communities, discovering a passion for helping fellow veterans. Following his 12-year military mission, his new “civilian life” mission was clear – giving back to his fellow brothers and sisters – both those who have come before him, and those returning home today. Wanglund is now the Regional Manager for Clear Path for Veterans, a veteran support agency with offices across the Northeast. Each day on the job is a chance to make a difference in the lives of a fellow veteran – a mission Wanglund doesn’t take lightly.
“I saw a need for veterans’ services to be improved in better ways in our communities and wanted to be a part of the solution to helping them. I had a lot of good ideas and great mentors who entrusted me to help my fellow veterans. Our team always finds ways to better serve our community and help the veterans and their families that may be in need of services to improve their lives. It’s been a great honor in my life to be able to do this for as long as I have and to continue to serve my country in a different way after my military career ended,” said Wanglund.
Wanglund oversees the peer support program at Clear Path, along with various veteran programs spanning eight counties throughout New York State. He’s also an active member of the Southern Tier Homeless Coalition. He credits his time in Spartan Country for instilling a love for community, and showcasing the impact of being a good person.
“Whether it be our teachers, coaches, or the staff at Maine-Endwell, there was always a plethora of opportunities to learn and grow as a person because of this great school and community. The foundation of who I am started at Maine-Endwell and has continued on through my entire life. I’m eternally grateful for the opportunities and skills I learned at Maine-Endwell,” said Wanglund.
As a hockey player growing up, Wanglund looks back fondly on the memories he made on the ice and in the classroom thanks to some of his favorite educators and coaches – many whom he considered leaders and instrumental in his youth. He still keeps in touch with some of them, and recently spoke to a class taught by Rachel Murat.
“I love seeing how much the school has evolved and how fortunate the students are at Maine-Endwell to have the facilities and staff to guide them,” said Wanglund.
25 years after he turned his Spartan gold tassel from one side to the other, he says his advice to students hasn’t changed much from the advice he received a quarter of a century prior.
“Take advantage of the great educators and opportunities that you will be presented while attending school at Maine-Endwell. Get involved in your community and find the path that you want to follow in your life to be the best person that you can be. I guarantee you will get so many skills that will benefit you the rest of your life because of this great community. Life is what you make out of it, and you will have so many amazing opportunities afforded to you because of the skills that you’re learning today if you take advantage of learning from them,” said Wanglund.
We thank 2000 grad Jonathan Wanglund for his service to the country, and his continued service to our community, and communities across the state.