POCATELLO, Idaho- Jake and Lia Pele are grateful for the experiences they had at Idaho State as student-athletes. Jake played football at Idaho State from 2009-13 while Lia (Margolis) starred on the soccer field from 2011-13, winning a Big Sky title in 2012.
"I am grateful to Idaho State," Jake said. "It provided us an opportunity to live our childhood dream. The community members helped jump start our career. We met our best friends."
"The opportunity to be a college athlete, play soccer and complete my nursing degree set me up today," Lia added.
And most importantly Lia said, "I wouldn't have met my husband."
The two started dating in their final year as student-athletes in 2013 and were married in 2016. Now the two have a daughter, Amelia, who was born in November of 2019.
Now the two are making a difference in Meridian, Idaho. Jake, who started as a police officer in Pocatello is now an officer in Meridian while Lia works as an outpatient nurse at a pediatric clinic.
"I always knew I wanted to work in health care," Lia said. "I just didn't know what it would look like. When I transferred to ISU I had heard amazing things about the nursing program. I appreciated the ability to get a degree in nursing while being a college athlete."
Jake realized he wanted to have a career in law enforcement when he was in high school.
"I was influenced by an officer in my local community," he said.
John Zamberlin recruited him to Pocatello and on Jake's recruiting visit he had Jake meet several local law enforcement figures. Then while playing football he built relationships with Bengal football greats Lance Cartwright and Akilah Lacey, who are cops on the Pocatello Police Force.
"I started in it right after football," Jake said.
Lia, who has also worked in several areas such as the emergency room and labor and delivery is set to graduate with her doctorate as a Family Nurse Practioner in May of 2021.
The two both admit that their time as a student-athlete prepared them for life after college.
"The overall structure we had in college athletics such as 5 a.m. weights and 6 p.m. study hall built success for me in the long run," Jake said.
Lia added, "The main thing Jake and I talk about is the discipline to stay focused to get the job done. We work really hard in what we are doing and we have a standard to be the best in our job."
Since the birth of Amelia in November Lia has continue to work part time at the pediatric clinic and since COVID-19 she has seen a drastic change in operations.
"Outpatient clinics have had to restructure their entire day to day approach to seeing patients," Lia said. "Some are using telehealth and if someone comes in for illness they are seen in the parking lot in their car to keep everyone safe at work. A lot of people are delaying wellness visits and that is having a huge impact on the entire practice."
Lia added that they are checking temperatures at screening and that nurses are wondering if they are going to have work because appointments are slow.
On the police side, Jake said there have been shift adjustments and "we are handling calls differently."
But he added, "We live in a great community. A lot of community members are donating products like masks.
While Jake and Lia have jobs that can be time consuming, the two are good about leaving work at work.
"Our work doesn't define us," Lia said. "We enjoy what we have at home with a unique understanding of what we do. I saw his side of the job when they had to bring in patients. It is a unique way to support each other."
Jake works as a resource officer at Meridian High School and coach's football at Rocky Mountain. When school is not in session he goes back to patrol.
Now the roles are reversed and he is setting the same example to youth that an officer set for him when he was in high school.
"It is bigger than I could have ever imagined as I am invested in shaping a lot of young people," Jake said.
Notes: Over the summer Idaho State Athletics will continue to recognize student-athletes who are working in the health care industry. Next weeks spotlight is Kara Jenkins.
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