Aaron Johnson
Photo by: Josh Gales
Aaron Johnson Selected to College Sports Communicators' 30 Under 30 List
11/30/2023 12:15:00 PM | General
GREENWOOD, Ind. - Aaron Johnson of the Purdue Fort Wayne media services office was selected to the College Sports Communicators' 30 Under 30 list, the CSC announced on Thursday (Nov. 30).
This is the second class of the CSC's 30 Under 30 award. This honor was created by the association's Young Professionals Committee in 2022 to recognize outstanding young professionals throughout the membership.
"To be selected as one of the College Sports Communicators' 30 Under 30 is such an honor," Johnson said. "I know how talented my colleagues in the business are, so to be selected among them is a tremendous accomplishment. I would not be who I am professionally without the guidance of one of the best mentors in the business, Derrick Sloboda, so I thank him with all my heart. Being able to chronicle the careers of our student-athletes at Purdue Fort Wayne is the most rewarding experience I've had as a young professional. I'd like to thank all of my student-athletes, coaches, administration, fellow SID colleagues, and most of all my wife for their support of my career. I'm looking forward to the future in this profession."
The recognition honors up-and-coming strategic, creative and digital athletics communications professionals throughout the CSC membership. Candidates are considered for selection based on achievement in one or more areas such as:
Johnson is in his eighth year as a member of the Purdue Fort Wayne media services office. He started as a graduate assistant in 2016, then moved into the full time role in 2019. He is the primary media contact for men's and women's volleyball, men's and women's golf, women's soccer, women's basketball and softball programs. He also assists in the promotion of the rest of the Mastodons' 16 sports.
Johnson has won several awards for his content creation for the 'Dons. He won the Fred Stabley Sr. Writing Contest for District 5 in 2022 for his historical feature on the 40-year history of the men's volleyball program and was a runner-up in two categories in 2023. His story about the 2022 women's soccer season that resulted in Horizon League Goalkeeper of the Year and Coach of the Year awards was runner-up in the event coverage category, and his feature on the women's basketball team's growth under head coach Maria Marchesano was runner-up in the season recap category. Behind his lead, the media services office also won the men's category for the AVCA Grant Burger Media Award in 2021 for their coverage of the 40th anniversary of the men's volleyball program.
Johnson also creates video content for gomastodons.com and the Mastodons' various social media channels.
In addition to his work with Purdue Fort Wayne, Johnson is the Sports Information Director for the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association, a role which he took on beginning in the 2020 men's volleyball season.
Johnson graduated from Indiana University in 2016 with a degree in Sport Communication. In his time there, he was a broadcaster for the Big Ten Network Student U program from 2014-16. Highlights of his broadcasting career included the 2015 edition of Purdue Fort Wayne men's basketball at Indiana, and the NCAA men's soccer tournament second round matchup of Indiana vs. Connecticut in 2014. He also joined the Indiana baseball team as a broadcaster on iuhoosiers.com, traveling with the Hoosiers for several road contests and home events.
The full list of the 30 Under 30 class can be found here.
This is the second class of the CSC's 30 Under 30 award. This honor was created by the association's Young Professionals Committee in 2022 to recognize outstanding young professionals throughout the membership.
"To be selected as one of the College Sports Communicators' 30 Under 30 is such an honor," Johnson said. "I know how talented my colleagues in the business are, so to be selected among them is a tremendous accomplishment. I would not be who I am professionally without the guidance of one of the best mentors in the business, Derrick Sloboda, so I thank him with all my heart. Being able to chronicle the careers of our student-athletes at Purdue Fort Wayne is the most rewarding experience I've had as a young professional. I'd like to thank all of my student-athletes, coaches, administration, fellow SID colleagues, and most of all my wife for their support of my career. I'm looking forward to the future in this profession."
The recognition honors up-and-coming strategic, creative and digital athletics communications professionals throughout the CSC membership. Candidates are considered for selection based on achievement in one or more areas such as:
- Professional success
- Impact on their athletic department/conference office
- Service to CSC
Johnson is in his eighth year as a member of the Purdue Fort Wayne media services office. He started as a graduate assistant in 2016, then moved into the full time role in 2019. He is the primary media contact for men's and women's volleyball, men's and women's golf, women's soccer, women's basketball and softball programs. He also assists in the promotion of the rest of the Mastodons' 16 sports.
Johnson has won several awards for his content creation for the 'Dons. He won the Fred Stabley Sr. Writing Contest for District 5 in 2022 for his historical feature on the 40-year history of the men's volleyball program and was a runner-up in two categories in 2023. His story about the 2022 women's soccer season that resulted in Horizon League Goalkeeper of the Year and Coach of the Year awards was runner-up in the event coverage category, and his feature on the women's basketball team's growth under head coach Maria Marchesano was runner-up in the season recap category. Behind his lead, the media services office also won the men's category for the AVCA Grant Burger Media Award in 2021 for their coverage of the 40th anniversary of the men's volleyball program.
Johnson also creates video content for gomastodons.com and the Mastodons' various social media channels.
In addition to his work with Purdue Fort Wayne, Johnson is the Sports Information Director for the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association, a role which he took on beginning in the 2020 men's volleyball season.
Johnson graduated from Indiana University in 2016 with a degree in Sport Communication. In his time there, he was a broadcaster for the Big Ten Network Student U program from 2014-16. Highlights of his broadcasting career included the 2015 edition of Purdue Fort Wayne men's basketball at Indiana, and the NCAA men's soccer tournament second round matchup of Indiana vs. Connecticut in 2014. He also joined the Indiana baseball team as a broadcaster on iuhoosiers.com, traveling with the Hoosiers for several road contests and home events.
The full list of the 30 Under 30 class can be found here.
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