Kevin Flink graduated from (then) Woodrow Wilson High School in 1971 and received his degree in broadcast journalism from Washington State University in 1975. Throughout his career, he balanced teaching at Benson High School for over 30 years and announcing for countless events, programs, schools and sports. Despite having retired from teaching, Flink has decided to spend his time announcing for sports games throughout Oregon.

One of the most outstanding opportunities in his career, that may come as a shock to many IBW high schoolers, is that along with announcing for IBW sporting events, he is also the announcer for the Portland Timbers and Thorns. “There’s a little bit of an adrenaline rush when you are talking to over 25,000 people in Providence Park [where the Thorns and Timbers play],” said Flink. 

Even though he plays a big role in these games, he is often unrecognized walking to and from the games. “I’m kind of hidden in the press box so people can’t see me, which is really cool,” said Flink. “This voice comes out, but I can walk among them getting to the game and going home and all that kind of stuff, and really nobody even knows who I am.” 

Ever since high school, Kevin Flink has never been a loud and outgoing person. He instead approaches his announcing job as more of a narrator. “I’m a reporter,” said Flink. “I’m not a cheerleader.” Among many other PA announcers who yell and scream to celebrate touchdowns or goals, Flink stands out for remaining true to his own style.

Another thing that Flink does differently from many other PA announcers, especially those at high school events, lies in his preparation. “I tell people I outwork most other PA announcers,” said Flink. “I go online to the OSAA website, find out the team’s rosters and stuff, type them up and customize them for myself.”

His advice to “work hard [and] prepare” has led to his overall success, both as an announcer and teacher.

Flink started his journey towards becoming an announcer in the TV Studio Program at then-Wilson. This program gave students the opportunity to share daily news with the school, much like the announcements that occur at the start of every second period. “We would put on a live program every day into the classrooms,” said Flink. “We would read the Daily Bulletin and do a weather forecast and play some music, and let the kids know what was going on that day at school.” 

His TV Studio Program teacher, Marcia Zervis, noticed his success in broadcasting and encouraged him to try out for the sportscaster program at Benson High School. After being accepted in his sophomore year, he started announcing for basketball games around the Portland Public School District for KBPS, the official PPS radio station. “It’s a fantastic program, and it changed my entire life,” said Flink. 

After getting his degree in communications, he returned to Benson, where he was offered a teaching position in the broadcasting and sportscasting pathway. Since then, he has become an essential catalyst in making the program what it is today. “I wrote up a curriculum for that program that they’re still using today,” said Flink. In 1979, this program won the national award for Corporation of Public Broadcasting as the best young people’s program in the United States. 

In his teaching, Flink always focused on the individual student. “I never went to education school, which is unusual, but that means I could kind of cut my own path and design what I wanted to do,” said Flink.  “I tried to always remember how it felt to be a high school student.” 

As someone who started out being rather shy during his high school years, Flink found teachers who encouraged him to step outside of his comfort zone and lean into what he was passionate about. When teachers he was training came to him for advice, he would always say, “Treat the students how you wanted to be treated when you were a student.”

As a teacher, Flink focused on preparing his students to be good communicators so they could get a head start in their careers after Benson High School. “You have to know how to communicate with the public, with your coworkers and that kind of thing,” said Flink. “That is the most important thing.” 

Flink’s time in high school at IBW was life-changing. “It helped put me on the path to a career where I was able to give back and help a lot of kids over an almost 40-year education career,” said Flink. “I am very indebted to the teachers and the faculty members that helped [me].”