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About Us:
VSI is an active member of the following organizations:
HECA – Higher Education Consultants Association
WACAC – Western Association for College Admissions Counseling
IECA – Independent Educational Consultants Association
Our Mission - To
provide innovative and insightful educational resources,
tools and programs for student athletes, their families
and coaches in the Northwest to help them better understand
the college identification and selection process.
The VSI staff consists of college coaches,
high school coaches, guidance counselors, ex-college
athletes, ex-professional
athletes and parents that have all been involved with
the college selection and recruiting process. We all know
how the process works and how to work the process and
be successful.
Scott Brayton - Founder/Coach/Advisor/Mentor
Scott's genuine interest
in sports and those who participate in them has led him
to create unique services that educate those who are
looking to find the college that is right for their educational
needs. Scott considers himself one of the lucky college
students who was able to receive an excellent education
while playing the sport he loves. He has watched others
who have not been as successful in achieving similar
goals and has set out change that trend.
- High School Career
- All-State, All-New England, Honorable
Mention All American – Soccer
- Varsity Basketball, Baseball
- All State Lacrosse
- Junior National Team Member
- Soccer
- College Soccer Career
- Hartwick College (4) year player
- Member of the 1977 Division I
National Champions
- Member of the 1980 Final Four
Team
- Professional Soccer Career (4)
years
- Assistant College Coach
(2 years)
Gary Whitehouse - Coach/Advisor/Mentor
Coach/Advisor – Gary has a passion to help young student-athletes pursue their dreams. He has seen too many student-athletes in the Northwest over the years not attain their dreams of going to college, getting a great education and playing the sport they love. Gary has also experienced first hand with his son how hard the college selection and recruiting process can be. He will admit to anyone how many different ways a parent or child can mess up the process by not knowing what is important and what is not. He lived it himself…….
Gary’s background in sales, communications and his empirical knowledge of the college selection and recruiting process has made him an expert.
“Developing a plan, executing the plan will always create a winning situation for each of his clients..!”
2003-Present Varsity Student Institute
1997–2004 LWYSA Crossfire Premier Soccer
- Vice President of Crossfire Board from 2000-03
- Secretary of Crossfire Board from 1998 to 2000
- Crossfire Team Manager from 1997 to 2004
- State Cup Representative 1999-Present
- 2000 WSYSA ODP Program ODP Administrator/Team Manager
- Attended Regional Camp with WSYSA Team at NW Nazarene College
Lisa Unsworth - Coach/Advisor/Mentor
Former Canadian National Team member, Lisa Unsworth, has coached in the NCAA for 14 years at all Divisions: I, II and III. Unsworth comes to Portland from Calgary, Alberta, where previously she was the head coach of the Calgary Wildfire, a USL W-League team and more recently for 3 years at Lewis & Clark College.
From 2000-2004, Unsworth was the head women’s soccer coach at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia, Canada. Previously, she spent the 1997-98 seasons as the first assistant at the University of Kansas and earlier was a graduate assistant coach at both Drury University and Gonzaga University.
Unsworth had an outstanding playing career, highlighted by being named as a Canadian National team member from 1991-93. She was also a member of the Alberta Provincial team from 1988-1993, competing in the Canada Games finals in 1993. In 2001, she was selected as an assistant coach for the Canadian National team which competed in the FISU World Student Games in Beijing, China.
Lisa earned bachelor’s degrees from The University of Calgary and Gonzaga University, and her Master of Education from Drury University in Springfield, Missouri.
While coaching in the NCAA, she enjoyed the close relationships she built with players and families in the recruiting process. She is excited to continue the hard work for VSI to see that student-athletes become empowered in the recruiting search to find the best college or university. Lisa sees the destination of college as being one of the most significant contributors to shaping young people’s futures and realizes how important this life step is.
Bruce Beall - Coach/Advisor/Mentor
Introduced to rowing at the University of Washington in the early 70’s, Bruce has been involved at all levels of the sport for 36 years. Bruce originally partnered with Scott 5 years ago while working for the George Pocock Rowing Foundation. Bruce believes that athletics add tremendous value to a college experience.
- High School Career
- 3 Varsity Letters in Swimming
- State Meet qualifier as a Junior and Senior.
- Team Captain
- College RowingCareer
- University of Washington – 3 year Varsity letterman
- US National Team for the 1971 Pan American Games in Cali, Columbia
- University of Washington Athletic Hall of Fame (1971 Varsity Crew)
- International Rowing Career
- 5 US National Teams for World Rowing Championships and Pan American Games (sweep and sculling)
- 1984 Olympic Games (Stroke, Quadruple Sculls)
- College Coaching
- University of Washington – Graduate Assistant
- Boston University – Freshmen Heavyweights
- Harvard University _ Varsity Lightweights
- M.I.T. – Varsity Heavyweights
- University of California, Berkeley – Varsity Heavyweights
- Other
- Member of USRowing High Performance Committee for the 4 "year" quadrennial leading up to the 2004 Athens Olympics
Craig B. Landgren- Coach/Advisor/Mentor
Craig’s love for sports and working with young adults has led him to Varsity Student Institute. Craig has a passion to help high school athletes achieve their college dreams while playing their favorite sport. He knows first-hand that without a plan in place, nothing will happen. He is a perfect example of not having the tools or guidance available to help him select the right schools for the right reasons. Craig now knows if he had marketed himself while in high school, he could have combined his love of baseball with his great education.
Education- University of Northern Colorado, May 2003
- B.S. in Business Administration, Emphasis: Management
- Minor: Coaching- to train, develop, motivate and help lead individuals
Baseball Career
- 11 years of baseball including little league, middle school travel teams, all-star teams, high school and summer legion ball
Professional Career
- 3 seasons in the NBA, Media Relations, Denver Nuggets Basketball Club
- 1 season in Minor League Baseball, San Diego Padres (Single A Affiliate)
- 3 years in Athletic Club Sales
- Former Head & Assistant High School Baseball Coach
Paula Bishop, CPA – College Financial Aid Advisor
Paula knows the college financial aid system and works with parents to develop strategies to pay for their children’s college education. Paula is a Certified College Planning Specialist, and has received extensive training in the details of the financial aid system. She is a frequent speaker on “The Secrets of Financial Aid for College” and presents to high school parents, financial planners, college counselors, CPAs and church/sports groups.
Paula holds an MBA from the University of California at Berkeley, and a BS in Economics with a major in Finance from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. She is a member of the Washington Society of CPAs, the American Society of Women Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Paula can be reached at paulabishop@qwest.net or 425-646-4535. Detailed information can be found at www.paulabishop.com. |
