NORTHWEST CONFERENCE – PERSON OF DISTINCTION AWARD
The Northwest Conference puts high value on celebrating our students, programs and communities throughout the school year. From “Leaders in Sportsmanship,” to “Coaches vs. Cancer” and “Only 7 Seconds,” The Northwest Conference consistently goes above and beyond with outreach to every school and their corresponding communities.
Starting this spring, each school in the NWC will have the opportunity to highlight someone from their community as a “Person of Distinction.” This honor will celebrate someone associated with each athletic program and draw a spotlight on the amazing selfless people who help make this conference so special!
Burlington-Edison Athletics
Person of Distinction – Susan Slotemaker
Testimonials
With three amazing daughters that all played varsity soccer at B-EHS, Susan Slotemaker has been an important part of the Tiger Soccer program for over a decade. For a team to have success on the field and for the athletes to perform at their highest level, it takes athletic talent, hard work, and dedicated coaches. It also requires committed and supportive parents. No one fits that description better than Susan.
Over the past 11 years Susan has done everything imaginable to support the team. This includes organizing fundraisers, volunteering her home for team bonding retreats, creating memorable “themed” team dinners and snacks, procuring a dump truck for the team to ride in during the homecoming parade, providing protective eyewear during the solar eclipse, bringing ice cream at the end of practice on a hot day, just to name a few.
More important than all the things previously mentioned was Susan’s positive attitude and supportive encouragement of the people around her. If a coach was hungry after a long day of work and games, she would bring them food. If another player on the team needed a ride, she was there to give it. If a student transferred to the school, she was the first to offer friendship to their parents. These efforts were often unnoticed and uncelebrated (which was fine with her), but they were always appreciated and truly contributed to a “family” atmosphere around the team.
Ryan Kuttel
Burlington-Edison Head Girls Soccer Coach
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Susan is a rock star. Susan is always ready to help and assist in any capacity as needed. When Covid hit, and we were able to start our events back up or getting ready to resume at limited capacity she anticipated the need to help in some way. She reached out to our athletic department and said, “what can I do to help?” At the time, we were not charging admission so to pay our event workers was not going to happen. She volunteered to work the pass gate and monitor entry into all the events whether her daughters were playing or not. Susan has helped in many other aspects of being a team mom, working as a booster club member, and helping organize team dinners, etc…
Susan was instrumental in helping organize the “50th year anniversary Title IV” event with our girls basketball team, which was a huge success. She is always at our events throughout every season and always checking to see if any help is needed. Susan’s last daughter is graduating at the end of the school year. But, we hope to continue to see Susan at our events. If not, she will truly be missed.
Donald Beazizo
Burlington-Edison Athletic Director
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Susan Slotemaker has been a stalwart volunteer for the last 7 years with Burlington Edison girls basketball. Susan is tireless in her efforts to unite parents and community members to help support the basketball program. She puts time, effort and excellence into her volunteering efforts. She addresses needs and challenges that have arisen in our program, and is always willing to step up to lead the charge to provide solutions and make things happen.
This season Susan was president of our booster club, rallied parents to help with our Title IX celebration, helped us organize our coaches v cancer game, our youth night, and our Appreciate a Referee night, etc. Susan is a volunteer who we can all constantly count on to get things done, and to find great ways to support B-E teams.
Brett McLeod
Burlington-Edison Head Girls Basketball Coach
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