By Jennifer Kotila Staff Writer

DASSEL, COKATO, ADRIAN, MN As a young kid with a speech impediment, Jason Olson took part in activities in which he had to get up in front of people and talk, which made him feel more comfortable.

Those activities led to a passion for speech and one-act play, activities which he has coached at Adrian High School in southwestern Minnesota for 10 years since joining the staff as a social studies teacher.

Olson recently won recognition nationally for his coaching skills, receiving the National Federation of State High School Associations Speech, Debate, and Theatre Educator of the Year Award.

Recipients are nominated by their peers, and the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) chooses the winner from Minnesota.

I think what has given me the passion for speech and one-act is the confidence I got as a child from taking part in these activities, Olson said.

He credits the teachers and instructors he had while in high school and college for igniting his passion.

It started at Dassel-Cokato, when I had amazing teachers like Dave and Linda Metcalf in theatre, and Mike Worcester and Mari Pokornowski in speech, Olson said. I still consider them my mentors.

After his passion was ignited, students continued to fan the flames.

[Students] are the ones dealing with six classes a day, homework, jobs, and sometimes other school activities, Olson said. But they still find time to want to be good (at speech and one-act), and that is really half the battle. They are passionate, so, I am.

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DC native recognized nationally for coaching