Sunday, March 4, 2012

Hawks Sign Education Adviser To Extension

Press Release

The Portland Winterhawks have signed Sue Johnson, the team’s education adviser, to a three-year contract extension.

Johnson has been the education adviser for the Winterhawks for over 20 years, first while working as a teacher and counselor at Milwaukie High School before joining the team in an expanded capacity before the 2010-11 season following her retirement from the school. She works extensively with all Winterhawks players, both those in college and high school, as they pursue their academic goals.

“I’m excited to continue working with the players and their families supporting their academic endeavors. I’m proud to work for an organization that places such an emphasis on the players’ education,” said Johnson. “We hold our players to a high standard in the classroom, and it’s incredibly gratifying to assist them in meeting, and exceeding, those expectations.”

“We have 24 players who come here from all over the Western United States, Canada and Europe. Sue works diligently to get each one situated in the right courses, then works closely with them through the season,” said Winterhawks General Manager & Head Coach Mike Johnston. “Sue has been a tremendous resource for our players and their families, and we’re excited that she will continue in her role with the organization.”

The Western Hockey League places a strong emphasis on education and the Winterhawks are a four-time winner of the league’s Scholastic Team of the Year Award.

Johnson works with the team’s high school-aged students to make sure their transcripts are in order and that the players are enrolled in the proper classes, assists with SATs and other college admissions exams, provides career counseling services, writes letters of recommendation for college, and acts as a liaison with both the parents of the players and college admissions officers. In addition, she works with the college-aged players to help enroll them in courses and plan their post-secondary education.

Johnson spent 28 years at Milwaukie High School as a student counselor and teacher before retiring in 2010.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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