Testimonials From Former Student-Athletes And Colleagues
Je suis une étudiante française, et j’ai eu la chance d’avoir été en contact avec Johanna dès le début de mon projet. J’étais désorientée par la complexité du système étudiant américain et du processus de candidature, mais Johanna m’a aiguillée en m’expliquant précisément les étapes, les dates butoires, ainsi qu’en me conseillant tout en étant attentive à mon projet personnel. Johanna m’a épaulé non seulement pendant le processus initial de candidature, mais également tout au long de mon cursus universitaire aux USA. Elle se rendait toujours disponible dans les situations délicates comme au moment de la pandémie du COVID19 durant lequel elle a été un vrai soutien, me permettant de poursuivre mes études le plus normalement possible malgré le stress et les ajustements à faire.
I am a French student, and I had the chance to be in contact with Johanna from the very beginning of my journey. I was very confused because of the American college system and the application process, but Johanna helped me by explaining to me precisely the different steps, the important deadlines, as well as by advising me while being attentive to my individual profile, goals and needs. Johanna did not only help me through the initial application process, but throughout my whole education at the university, she was always available in difficult situations, such as when the Covid pandemic hit when she was a real support allowing me to continue my studies as normally as possible despite the changes and stress.
PAULINE CONSCIENCE
Former French Junior National Team member
2021 NCAA Championship Qualifier
B.A - Art History & Master of Management
Johanna es una excelente guía para cualquier persona que quiera asegurar su ingreso y éxito en un programa universitario de primer nivel. El horario de un estudiante-atleta es especialmente ajetreado (con altas exigencias académicas y deportivas), y tu rendimiento a lo largo de tus años universitarios repercute enormemente en tu desarrollo profesional. Por eso, tener a alguien con conocimientos especializados y experiencia para liderarte en los momentos críticos evitará que cometas errores costosos y te impulsará a alcanzar tu potencial. Johanna no pierde de vista las fechas de entrega, brindándote información clara y concisa cuando la necesitas. Es extremadamente organizada y muy atenta. Si tuviera hijos que fueran a entrar a la universidad como estudiantes-atletas, estaría encantado de tener a Johanna apoyándolos durante todo el proceso, desde la admisión hasta la graduación. Estarás en muy buenas manos si decides trabajar con ella. Es alguien que se gana la confianza a través de su profesionalismo, positividad y magnífica calidad humana.
Johanna is an excellent guide for anyone looking to ensure enrollment and success in a top-college program. The schedule of a student-athlete is especially hectic (with high demands from academics and athletics), and your performance throughout your college years greatly impacts your professional development. So having someone with specialized knowledge and experience to lead you through critical moments will prevent you from making costly mistakes and push you to achieve your potential. Johanna will help you stay on top of deadlines, providing clear and concise information when you need it. She is extremely well-organized and highly responsive. If I had children heading to college as student-athletes, I would be delighted to have Johanna supporting them through the whole process, from admission until graduation. You will be in great hands if you choose to work with her. She is someone who earns trust through her professionalism, positivity and superb human quality.
DAVID G. TANAMACHI
Former Senior Mexican National Team
3-time NCAA Championship qualifier
B.S - Finance & M.S - Finance and Economics
作为一名需要申请NCAA和学生运动员项目的国际学生，申请前的沟通相当重要。 由于中国的GPA评分系统与美国的不同，一些必要的成绩在NCCA官方网站可能无法正确填写，因此填写 NCAA 申请网站可能会面临一些问题。 Johanna教练在帮助我与NCAA团队的所有沟通过程中都表现出了极其专业的帮助和指导，并在整个过程中提供了所有需要的资源。 Johanna教练的帮助在大一的时候对我很重要，这是一个关键时期，不仅是从高中到大学的转变，也是从中国到美国的生活上的转变。 Johanna教练的帮助让我更好地与所有团队合作训练，并与所有队友和教练相处融洽。
As an international student that needs to apply for the NCAA and the student-athlete program, communication before the application could be rather important. Since the grading system in China is different from that in the States, some required grades might not be filled properly, so filling in the NCAA application website could be challenging. Coach Johanna showed extremely professional help and guidance on all the communication with the NCAA portal and provided all necessary resources during the whole process. Coach Johanna’s help was important to me through my freshman year, which is a critical period that not only the transaction from high school to college but also from China to the US. That made me better work with the team and get along with all my teammates and coaches.
JIAJING LI
国家二级运动员 – Second national-level athlete
B.S. Science
M.S. Supply Chain Management
Johanna m’a guidé avec un transfert difficile d’un autre programme D1 vers Penn State University. Elle m'a soutenu tout au long du processus d'intégration et m'a présenté les ressources disponibles sur le campus. J'ai été frappé par sa volonté d'aider. Les politiques universitaires et les règles de la NCAA peuvent être difficiles à comprendre, mais Johanna a toujours été d'une grande aide grâce à sa connaissance du système sportif de division 1 et de ses règles de conformité. Elle travaille avec des étudiants-athlètes internationaux depuis de nombreuses années, comprend les difficultés auxquelles nous pouvons être confrontés et sera votre meilleur atout en tant qu'étudiant-athlète aux États-Unis.
Johanna guided me through a challenging transfer from another D1 program to Penn State University. She supported me through the onboarding process and introduced me to the resources available on campus. I was struck by her willingness to be of assistance. University policies and NCAA rules can be hard to understand, but Johanna has always been a great resource thanks to her knowledge of the Division 1 athletics system and its compliance rules. She has been working with international student-athletes for many years, understands the difficulties we can face, and will be the best advocate for you as a student-athlete.
CLÉMENT PERRIER
Former French Junior National Team
2-time NCAA All-American
B.S Economics & Master of Finance
Johanna è sempre stata un aiuto preziosissimo durante tutto il mio percorso accademico negli Stati Uniti. Si è sempre resa disponibile a rispondere alle domande che avevo sul processo delle ammissioni o sul molto complicato sistema accademico americano. Posso solo raccomandare la sua conoscenza e la sua assistenza a tutti gli studenti internazionali che vogliono provare ad avere un'esperienza scolastica-sportiva negli Stati Uniti: Johanna renderà questo stressante e complicato viaggio un'esperienza fantastica!
Johanna has always been a precious help all along my academic journey in the United States. She was always making herself available to answer all the questions I had about the application or the complicated academic system. I can only recommend her knowledge and assistance for any international student looking to study in the US: Johanna will make this stressful and intricate process a great experience!
SEBASTIANO BICEGO
Former Italian Junior National Team
4-time NCAA All American
B.S. Marketing & Master of Finance
After working with Johanna for nearly ten years, I do not hesitate in saying she is an attentive, caring, and knowledgeable advisor. Her desire to help students is second to none; you are in good hands with Johanna.
ANDY BANSE
Associate AD for Athletics Compliance
University of Iowa
No me alcanzan las palabras para explicar todo el apoyo que me dio Johanna, desde el momento que decidí ser parte de Penn State ella estuvo ahí para guiarme a través de cualquier problema posible. Me considero afortunado por haber tenido a alguien como ella a mi lado. Me ayudó con el proceso de reclutamiento, el proceso de admisión a la escuela, todo el papeleo necesario para obtener mi visa de estudiante, con mi hospedaje, alimentos, clases, etc. Pero si algo la vuelve verdaderamente especial es que siempre me trató y me apoyó como a un igual, y no importaba que, ella siempre estaba ahí para ayudarme con cualquier tema relacionado con mis estudios, así como en mi vida personal. Gran parte de mi éxito en la Universidad fue gracias al apoyo y la ayuda que me dio. Ella se volvió mi mentora y mi amiga; siempre estaré agradecido por tener a alguien como Johanna Hall en mi vida.
Words alone cannot express the amount of help I received from Johanna, since the moment I decided to be a part of Penn State she was there to guide me through every single possible situation I encountered. I was fortunate to have someone like her in my corner. She helped me through the recruitment, the admissions process, all the international-student paperwork I needed to obtain my visa, housing, food, classes, etc. But what makes her truly special is that she cared about me as a person, no matter what, she was always there to help me and advise me whether it was school related or in my personal life. I believe I was able to make it through my college career successfully thanks to the help and support that she gave me. She became my mentor and friend; I will always be grateful to have someone like Johanna Hall in my life.
EDUARDO LARA AZUETA
Former Mexican Junior and Senior National Teams
Mexican National Champion
B.A Telecommunications – Minor: Italian
როდესაც თქვენ ხართ საერთაშორისო სტუდენტ-სპორტსმენი, ყველაზე მნიშვნელოვანი ის არის, რომ იპოვოთ ადამიანები, რომლებიც დაგეხმარებათ თქვენი გზის გაკვლევაში. ყოველთვის ვიცოდი, რომ ჯოანა იყო ის ადამიანი, რომელსაც დავეყრდნობოდი. მის შესახებ ყველაზე მნიშვნელოვანი ის არის, რომ ის ყოველთვის ხელმისაწვდომი იყო და მზად იყო დამხმარებოდა, მიუხედავად სიტუაციისა, პასუხობდა ჩემს კითხვებს და მამხნევებდა. როგორც სტუდენტ-სპორტსმენი, მე ხშირად მქონდა კითხვები უნივერსიტეტის და სპორტულ წესებთან დაკავშირებით და ყოველთვის ვიცოდი, რომ ის იქნებოდა ადამიანი, რომელიც დამეხმარებოდა და დამაკვალიანებდა. მისმა ცოდნამ უნივერსიტეტის სისტემისა და მხარდაჭერამ უდავოდ გახადა ჩემი გამოცდილება უფრო პროდუქტიული და სასიამოვნო. მან ჩემზე ძალიან დადებითი გავლენა მოახდინა.
When you are an international student-athlete, the most important thing is finding the people who can help you navigate through overwhelming experience. I always knew that Johanna was the person I could rely on. The most important thing about her was that she was always available and willing to help me and everyone around, regardless of the situation, she answered my questions and always encouraged me. I often found myself overwhelmed with eligibility and compliance rules, and I always knew she would be the person who would help me navigate through them all. Her knowledge of the university system and empathy undoubtedly made my student-athlete experience more productive and enjoyable. Having her around me, had a significant positive impact.
TEODORA KAKHIANI-MECKLING
Former Georgian Junior and Senior National Teams
2017 European Champion
NCAA Team Champion and 4-time Individual NCAA All American
B.S. Communication Arts and Sciences – Minor: Labor and Employment Relations
The coming together of NCAA rules, international academic standards, language barriers and governmental regulations can make international recruiting very challenging for both universities and recruits. However, when Johanna was involved, it never seemed to be as difficult as it actually was because she understood the processes, regulations and requirements so well. Johanna was one of the most reliable, responsive and competent coaches that I have worked with. She was also passionate about the quality of her work and helping others succeed in whatever they were trying to achieve.
MATT STOLBERG
Associate Athletic Director for Compliance
Creighton University
Johanna no solo fue mi entrenadora de la Div. 1 NCAA pero también mi consejera y mentora. Cada vez que necesitaba ser guiado en mi vida personal o estudiantil, la primera persona que iba a ver era Johanna. Ella me ayudó mucho a poner mis pensamientos en orden y tomar la mejor decisión posible en cuanto a situaciones que tuve que enfrentar en la universidad como las relaciones con compañeros de equipo, parejas, profesores y otros entrenadores. En su totalidad, las decisiones que Johanna me ayudó a tomar cambiaron de manera positiva el rumbo de mis carreras atléticas, profesionales y estudiantiles. Siempre supe que podía hablar con Johanna de cualquier tema sin importar cuan personal o profesional sean y sabía que toda la información que compartía con ella se mantendría a salvo y confidencial, y no había tema que era suficientemente pequeño para no poder hablarlo y analizarlo con ella.
Johanna was not only my Div 1 NCAA coach but also an advisor and mentor. Every time I needed to seek guidance for both my personal and student life, the first person I would go to was Johanna. She helped me to get my thoughts in order and take the best possible decision when it relates to several situations one can face in college e.g. relationships with teammates, significant others, professors and other coaches. Overall, the decisions that Johanna helped me make were able to steer in such a positive way the fate of my athletic, professional and student careers. I always thought that I could speak to Johanna about any topic no matter how personal or professional it was and that what I relayed to her was always kept safe and confidential and that no topic was small enough for us to tackle and talk about it.
ALEJANDRO ANDRADE SALAZAR
Former Ecuador National Team
B.S. Computer Engineering
在我參加劍擊校隊期間，Hall 教練對我的個人成長產生了重大影響。作為一名剛到美國的國際學生，Hall教練一直表現出無盡的親和力，總是在有需要的時候解決我的疑問，並在劍擊場帶內外提供幫助，讓我快速適應了團隊和當地文化。她的專業精神和積極性不僅為我減輕了人生路不熟帶來的心理壓力，也賦予我更大的衝勁在運動和學業上挑戰自己。憑著對大學和NCAA Division 1系統的了解，她提供了各方面的指導和意見，剛幫助了我實現學分轉換而同時不影響比賽資格，讓我既能充分利用校外得到的學分，又能繼續為校爭光。她為團隊的奉獻促進了我對團隊的歸屬感，讓我在劍擊隊的經歷實現全方面的充實。
During my time on the fencing varsity team, Coach Hall made a significant impact on my personal growth. As an international student who is new to the United States, Coach Hall consistently showed accessibility and responsiveness, always being there to address my inquiries and offer assistance on and off the fencing strip, which helped me quickly adapt to both the team and local culture. Her professionalism and positivity created a supportive environment where I felt motivated to excel both athletically and academically. She demonstrated extensive knowledge of the university system and division 1 athletics, providing guidance on various aspects, from credit transfer rules to academic eligibility. Her dedication to the team and genuine concern for my wellbeing as a member fostered a sense of belonging and made my experience on the team truly fulfilling.
HOWIE CHAN 陳皓然
Former Hong Kong Junior and Senior National Teams
NCAA All-American
B.S. Risk Management
Saya berasa beruntung sekali dibimbing oleh Coach Johanna selama menjadi atlet anggar di Pennsylvania State University (2016-2020). Coach Johanna lebih dari seorang mentor buat saya dan teman teman saya. Coach Johanna sangat supportive, terbuka dan selalu siap mendengarkan saya dan atlet atlet dibawah bimbingan dia. Coach Johanna mempunyai dedikasi yang tinggi, sikap yang positif dan pendekatan secara inklusif sehingga meninggalkan kesan yang sangat mendalam dalam diri kami. Sebagai seorang yang bertanggung jawab atas Divisi 1 Tim Anggar, Coach Johanna mempunyai keahlihan dalam berorganisasi sehingga semua jadwal dapat berjalan lancar dan tepat waktu. Coach Johanna dengan konsisten memastikan bahwa kami tidak saja fokus berlatih anggar, tapi juga akademik. Perhatian Coach Johanna terhadap kami secara keseluruhan benar benar sangat kami hargai. Dengan dedikasi yang tinggi, sikap yang positif, pendekatan secara inklusif, Coach Johanna merupakan seorang mentor yang meninggalkan impresi sangat dalam di diri saya. Saya dengan sepenuh hati merekomendasi Coach Johanna ke organisasi yang mencari mentor dan pemimpin yang benar benar memperhatikan kesusksesan atlet-atletnya baik di bidang olah raga maupun di luar itu.
I had the privilege of being under the guidance of Coach Johanna when I was a student-athlete at Pennsylvania State University (2016-2020), and I can confidently say that she has been more than just a mentor to me. Her unwavering support and approachability made her someone I could turn to at any time. As the overseer of our division 1 fencing team, she exhibited exceptional organizational skills, ensuring that all deadlines and appointments were met by every team member. Coach Johanna's commitment to our academic and athletic success was remarkable. She consistently checked up on us, ensuring that we were not only excelling in our training but also maintaining a strong focus on our academics. Her genuine concern for our well-being, both on and off the field, was truly appreciated.
Coach Johanna's mentorship, dedication, positive attitude, and inclusive approach have made a lasting impression on me. I am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to be part of her team. I wholeheartedly recommend Coach Johanna to anyone seeking a mentor and leader who truly cares about their success both on and off the field.
ALISSA GOZALI
Former Indonesia Junior and Senior National Teams
B.S. Accounting
I had the pleasure of working with Johanna during my almost 3 years at Penn State. Johanna was one of the most knowledgeable, well-organized, and kind coaches that I’ve ever worked with. She was an excellent communicator and extremely knowledgeable of NCAA/university policies and procedures. NCAA rules can be challenging, but Johanna consistently demonstrated that she had a firm understanding of the NCAA landscape. Any student looking for guidance in the college admissions process would be hard pressed to find someone more qualified than Johanna.
FRANK YEBOAH
Assistant Athletic Director of Compliance
Villanova University
Da quando è iniziato il mio percorso di studi universitario, Johanna ha sostenuto me e la mia famiglia con competenza e professionalità sia durante tutto il processo di candidatura, che per tutti gli anni di studio. Dall'ingresso al campus al giorno della laurea, mi sono sentita incoraggiata e sostenua dalla guida sicura di Johanna nel mondo dello sport universitario. Johanna ha risposto sempre e tempestivamente a qualsiasi domanda e dubbio sulla nuova avventura che avevo deciso di intraprendere, sia che si trattasse del mio sport o degli studi o della vita personale. Per gli tutti gli studenti internazionali, decidere di lasciare il proprio paese d'origine e la propria famiglia per frequentare l’università in USA è una decisione davvero difficile e coraggiosa. Tuttavia, con Johanna al tuo fianco, tutto lo stress e l'incertezza svaniranno rapidamente perché non ti sentirai mai solo. L'ho sempre considerata la mia "mamma americana" e una volta che avrò miei figli, vorrei che qualcuno come lei si occupasse della loro avventura nel mondo sportivo del college. Grazie Johanna per tutto quello che hai fatto per me!
Since my collegiate journey began, Johanna supported my family and me with guidance and care throughout the application process and beyond. From stepping on campus to graduating, I felt encouraged and empowered by Johanna's professionalism and knowledge of collegiate athletics. In addition, Johanna answered any questions and concerns about the new adventure I decided to pursue, whether it was my sport, academics, or personal life. As any international students knows, leaving their home country and family behind is one of the hardest and most stressful decisions that one can make. However, with Johanna by your side, all the stress and uncertainty will quickly fade because you will never feel alone. I always looked at her as my “American mom,” and once I have kids of my own, I would want someone like her to take care of their transition to collegiate athletics. Thanks, Johanna, for all that you did for me!
LODOVICA BICEGO
Former Italian Junior National Team
4-time NCAA All-American including 2021 Individual Runner-up
B.S. Psychology