Junior from Cleveland, Ohio
Sport management major
with minors in business administration and coaching
To say that Jason G. Johnson is busy is an understatement. A junior sport management major, Jason has minors in business administration and coaching. Along with his studies he is vice president of Student Alumni Association, he has two jobs on campus, he calls for the phonathon each semester and he is the starting running back for the Beaver football team. “Time management is big. You wake up and lift, go to class, eat, practice, team meetings, work, homework and then you go to bed and do it again,” said Jason. “It’s actually easier to manage when I have football. I don’t know what to do with all that extra time in the off season.”
A part of the team
Jason transferred to Bluffton after his first year of college. “I really wanted to get back to playing football again. I knew a player here and he got me in touch with Coach Veidt,” said Jason. “Coach called me every day and I knew that this place was looking good for me.” While Jason has enjoyed being back on the football field, he has also learned to appreciate being part of the team. “When you are on a team that is as big as our football team, you are guaranteed to know at least one person wherever you go,” he said. “There are always other football players in Bob’s Place, or in your classes, or at lunch. You will also see someone you know.”
Serving with the guys
The football team has had multiple opportunities to serve in the community since Jason has joined the team. More than 50 football players and coaches filled sandbags for the Village of Bluffton to prepare for a forecast of heavy rainfall in March. The team filled 925 bags with 18 tons of sand. Members of the team also participated in the Walk A Mile In Her Shoes® event sponsored by the university's Social Work Club. Men from all walks of life walked one mile in women’s high-heeled shoes to raise awareness of rape, sexual assault and gender violence. In April, members and coaches of the team spent a Saturday at Maple Crest Retirement Community and Mennonite Memorial Home in Bluffton preparing the grounds—mulching, raking, planting and cleaning—for residents to spend the upcoming warm months outside.
Staying involved
“Coach Veidt was asked by Julia [Szabo] about potential student-athletes who would be a good fit with the Student Alumni Association (SAA),” said Jason about how he became vice president of SAA. “It’s been a lot of fun.” His relationship with Julia also allowed Jason to become a student caller for the phoneathon. “Even though I have two jobs, it’s another way for me to make a little extra money. And it’s interesting to talk to alumni and parents.” Jason works as a student custodian and cleans the weight room as well as Sauder Visual Arts Center. “I haven’t broken any ceramic pieces yet. Thankfully,” said Jason. “Sometimes I look at the art when I’m cleaning and it’s really good. I wish I was able to make pieces like the art students do. I don’t have an artistic bone in my body. I’ll stick to football.”
Andréa Ressler
