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karly olson

Karly is a high school art teacher and a tennis coach at Wheaton College in Illinois. Originally from Wheaton, Karly was a student-athlete at Wheaton Warrenville South High School, and then went on to play tennis and soccer at Wheaton College. At Wheaton, she studied kinesiology in hopes of implementing her passion for strength and conditioning into coaching tennis. After graduating in 2007, she decided to go back to school to pursue a second degree in Art Education. In the course of this time, she fell in love with ceramics and found a joy in creating functional artwork. During her studies, and all too often burning the midnight oil, she also discovered her love for a really good cup of coffee. This is when her pursuit of the "perfect" mug for her coffee came to life. She began her exploration of different mug forms, handles and glazes, while refining her skills and craft. When she finally finished school and began teaching, she also discovered her love for traveling during her breaks throughout the year and enjoyed searching for unique coffee shops along the way. Amidst her travels (mostly to the mountains), she realized that her pottery combined with a coffee shop would be an ideal space for people to enjoy good company over a cup of craft coffee, in a hand-crafted mug. In 2017, Karly attended the American Barista and Coffee School in Portland, Oregon in order to learn the ins and outs of how to open a coffee shop and to become well-versed in the world of coffee. She is trusting the Lord with the timing and details of when to open her coffee shop, but in the meantime, she continues to grow her pottery business and establish herself as an artist, teacher, and coach. 

    

Karly currently resides in Glen Ellyn, IL with her German Shepherd (studio assistant) Genny, and creates pottery from her home studio. 

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 I'm Karly

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EDUCATION

Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois

B.S. Kinesiology, December 2007

North Central College, Naperville, Illinois

B.A. Art Education Teaching Certificate, November 2010

 

ATHLETIC HONORS and INTERESTS

  • NCAA Doubles All-American tennis player 2007

  • 2nd place in DIII NCAA National Soccer Championships, 2008

  • Coach Edward A. Coray Leadership Award, Applied Health Science, Wheaton College, 2008

  • Competing in USTA Opens and ITF professional tournaments, 2015-present

  • Varsity tennis team captain, Wheaton College, 2003-2007

  • Doubles semifinalist in NCAA DIII Women’s Tennis Championships, 2007

  • Four-time All-Conference pick for the CCIW women’s tennis, 2003-2007

  • Two-time MVP of CCIW tournament for women’s tennis, 2005-2006

  • Women’s Open Singles Champion at USTA Grand Prix Tournament in Glen Ellyn, IL in Summer 2013

  • Harris Bank Chicago Marathon, 2011

  • Danskin Sprint Triathlon in Aurora, Colorado in June 2009

  • Rock & Roll Half Marathon in Scottsdale, Arizona in January 2007

 

 

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TEACHING EXPERIENCE and VOLUNTEER WORK

  • High School Art Teacher, 2011-present

  • Kyle Korver Foundation Art Show, Brown Elementary School & Soul City Church, Chicago, IL, Spring 2011

  • Volunteer Coach for Fellowship of Christian Athletes, 2012-2013

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