Leadership teacher Doug Erickson was named the Minnesota Coordinator of Student Activities. “There were five candidates that were invited to apply for the position, and I was selected,” said Erickson.

He is now in charge of the Minnesota Association of Student Councils and Minnesota Association of Honor Societies, and his job includes organizing events and conventions in coordination with the Minnesota State School Board Association.

“It’s doing a lot of the stuff I’ve done for the last thirty years with the student council, only now I’m the person in charge,” he said. “I get to work for some great people; longtime friends across the state and new friends on the board. I get to meet with students from all around the state. It’s interesting to get the different perspectives.”

Erickson said he has Orono to thank for it.

“I owe Orono a huge debt of gratitude, because the only reason I got this position is because Orono has been so active on a state and national level with our student council. Without the administration’s support of Orono doing all of these activities, I never would have been accepted for the job,” Erickson said.

“I’m very grateful that Orono supports student leadership.”

Maddie Mayhew is the Editor in Chief – Online for The Spartan Speaks.