Sayers "Bud" Miller Distinguished Educator Award

NATA Executive Council for Education

This award honors the first chair of the NATA Professional Education Committee, Sayers "Bud" Miller, who was a distinguished educator. The objective of this award is to recognize individuals who follow his example and exemplify excellence in the field of athletic training education. This award recognizes individuals who excel in promoting athletic training education beyond the local level through teaching, service and scholarship on athletic training issues.

Candidate Criteria

Individuals must meet or exceed the following requirements for consideration:

  1. NATA member in good standing
  2. A minimum of 10 years as a full-time athletic training faculty member
  3. NPI number (with appropriate taxonomy code)
  4. Recognition for service at the state, regional or national level in professional organizations concerned with the athletic training profession
  5. Evidence of service to professional organizations. Evidence can include but is not limited to:
    • Positions (elected/appointed) held at the state, district or national level
    • Positions (elected/appointed) held at the state, regional or national level of other professional organizations
    • Speaking engagements at the community, state, regional or national levels
    • Professional memberships
    • Other appropriate items
  6. Evidence of contributions to the field of athletic training education beyond the classroom or individual institutions. Evidence can include but is not limited to:
    • Educational consultant work
    • Research activity
    • Other appropriate items
  7. Evidence of published manuscripts, books and/or formal presentations concerned with issues in athletic training.
  8. Evidence of college/university work and service. Evidence can include but is not limited to:
    • Courses developed and taught
    • Programs or curricula development
    • Educational administration and leadership
    • Thesis/dissertation involvement
    • Other appropriate items
  9. Evidence of overall impact on athletic training education. Evidence can include but is not limited to:
    • Impact on students
    • Impact on the structure and delivery of athletic training education
    • Impact on athletic training education field of study

Application Guidelines

I. The nomination can be made by any athletic trainer, student, administrator, or faculty member of a college/university.
II. Each nominator in collaboration with the nominee is responsible for compiling a dossier supporting the nomination. The materials should include the items listed below:

  1. The nominee’s resume or curriculum vitae.
  2. A summary statement of the candidate’s contributions and impact on athletic training education written by the nominator (collaboration with the nominee is strongly encouraged).
  3. Three letters of support for the candidate’s nomination. One letter can be from the nominator and one may be from a student.
  4. Where appropriate, each criterion should be supported by artifacts. Recommended artifacts include but are not limited to: a statement of teaching philosophy; additional letters of support; course evaluations; peer evaluations; evidence of honors and/or awards, scholarly activity, and service.
  5. All candidates are reviewed by members of the Distinguished Educator Award Selection Group, who are appointed by the Executive Council for Education. This selection group is comprised primarily of past winners of the award. The candidates will be evaluated on a rating scale relative to the criteria listed under the candidate criteria section. The chair of the NATA Executive Council for Education is not eligible for nomination.
  6. Once nominated, the candidate's dossier will be kept on file for a two-year period and considered both years if not selected in the first year.
  7. The award need not be given every year if no candidates are deemed qualified for the award.
  8. The award will be presented at the subsequent NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo.

All nominations, including all materials identified in the Application Guidelines must be complete and submitted no later than January 31. Submit nominations to ece@nata.org.