Point Loma High School’s Laurie Hurl received a surprise recognition March 3 as family, friends and the school’s staff gathered during the school’s monthly staff meeting to honor her with the 2010-11 Counselor of the Year award. The Jonasson Endowment Award Committee at San Diego State University annually recognizes a high school counselor in San Diego city and county schools who has “gone above and beyond the call of duty” for their students in attaining higher education. As the head counselor at Point Loma High for the last 20 years, Hurl has decided to retire at the end of the school year. She will soon have a total of 33 years with San Diego Unified School District, including two years as a general in-school counselor with Point Loma High. Hurl has a son, Tyler, who is following in her footsteps. Tyler recently received his teachers credential and is an assistant basketball coach at the school. Hurl also has two daughters who teach at PLHS. Kellie Larsen directs the AVID program and Robin Bergen teaches in the school’s special-education program.