If you walk into or call the Athletic Department at Portage High School you are likely to speak to Diana Rivera, the Athletic Secretary who is this week’s A Portage Life in the Spotlight. She works daily in the Athletic Office with Athletic Director Jeff Smith and his assistant Kelly Bermes.
Diana has served as the Athletics Secretary for two years and loves what she is doing in Athletics. She has been with Portage Township Schools for 13 years, previously working at the Portage West Main Office and the Fegely Middle School main office.
“I’m very comfortable where I am at, I really enjoy it,” Rivera said in response to a question about returning to traditional secretarial work, “It is a busy, fast paced environment to work in, but I like that.”
Not only is she responsible for answering phones and fielding questions from parent and staff, she is in charge of printing out schedules to hand to each student athlete, ensuring that all physicals are completed, arranging all of the transportation for students and coaches to away events, making sure that all the coaches have what they need, getting papers to the Athletic Director to sign, running the finances for the Athletic Department and on top of all of this, running the concession stand at every home Portage sporting event. Showing up to a game is not enough, she stocks, staffs and runs the concession stand.
“I’m sure there is more, I just can’t think of it at the moment,” Rivera said.
Everyone in Portage High School knows that the Athletic Department is one of the busiest parts of the school but no one can experience it like Diana does, that is unless they have done the job before.
“Your day goes by very fast, but I enjoy it. I enjoy being busy, I enjoy being around all of the kids,” Rivera added, “I work with a great staff, Jeff [Smith] and Kelly [Bermes] are wonderful to work with. I couldn’t ask for a better place to work.”
One might think that this job would take a toll on one’s personal life but Diana has ensured that she is able to put time aside to herself to go shopping for Christmas and walk her dogs.
“That is hard, especially when we go into a really busy season like we are now,” Rivera said, “You make the best of it and find time to do what you need to do for yourself.”
With all Diana Rivera does for the school, community and the students, she is undoubtedly A Portage Life in the Spotlight.