Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award

The Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer award recognizes NATA members who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to leadership, volunteer service, advocacy and distinguished professional activities as an athletic trainer.  MDAT exclusively recognizes NATA members who  have been involved in  service and leadership activities at the national and district level.  No other award, NATA or otherwise, is a prerequisite for eligibility for MDAT.

 

Award Eligibility

  • NATA member in good standing
  • 20 years BOC certification
  • 20 years membership in NATA
     

Nominations are open August 1st through September 15th, annually. 

Past Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award Recipients

Please click on a year to view past Athletic Trainer Award Recipients:

2025

  • Steven Cole, MEd, LAT, ATC
  • Tracey Covassin, PhD, ATC, FNATA
  • David Gallegos, MA, ATC, Cert. MDT
  • Phillip Gribble, PhD, ATC, FNATA
  • Kysha Harriell, PhD, LAT, ATC
  • Tamerah Hunt, PhD, LAT, ATC
  • Rebecca Lopez, PhD, ATC, FNATA
  • Sarah Manspeaker, PhD, LAT, ATC
  • David Marchetti, DAT, LAT, ATC
  • James Mensch, PhD, LAT
  • Toni Torres-McGhee, PhD, LAT, ATC
  • Jennier Volberding, PhD, LAT, ATC
  • Susan Yeargin, PhD, ATC

2024

  • Barton Anderson, DHSc, ATC
  • Anna August, MS, LAT, ATC
  • Amanda Benson, PhD, LAT, ATC
  • Steven Broglio, PhD, ATC
  • Shelly Fetchen DiCesaro, PhD, LAT, ATC
  • Hideyuki Izumi, PhD, DAT, ATC
  • Jamie L. Mansell, PhD, LAT, ATC
  • Christopher Mathewson, LAT, ATC, CSCS
  • Diane Sartanowicz, MS, LAT, ATC
  • Stephen J. Thomas, PhD, ATC, FNATA
  • Alison Snyder Valier, PhD, ATC, FNATA
  • Gene Elizabeth Verel
  • Brian Vesci, DAT, LAT, ATC
  • Leigh J. Weiss, MS, ATC, DPT

2023

  • Michelle Boyd, ATC
  • Murphy Grant, ATC, PES, CES
  • Chris Hall, MA, LAT, ATC
  • Matthew Kutz, PhD, ATC
  • Kenneth Lan, ScD, ATC, FNATA
  • Alice McLanie, PhD, ATC
  • Jennifer Popp, EdD, LAT, ATC
  • Jessica Rager Huett, EdD, LAT, ATC
  • Alice Wilcoxson, PhD, LAT, ATC
  • Lynne-Marie Young, MEd, LAT, ATC

2022

  • Brian Garth Ebel
  • Eric J. Fuchs, DA, ATC, AEMT
  • Michael A. Prybicien, MA, ATC, CES
  • Stephanie M. Singe, PhD, ATC, FNATA
  • Brian Zeller, PhD, LAT, ATC

2019

  • Mary Barnum, EdD, LAT, ATC
  • Joseph A. Beckett, EdD, ATC
  • Jennifer L. Brodeur, MS, LAT, ATC
  • Michelle A. Clearly, PhD, ATC
  • Darryl Conway, MA, ATC
  • Gianluca Del Rossi, PhD, ATC
  • Thomas P. Dompier, PhD, LAT, ATC
  • Brian Farr, MA, LAT, ATC
  • Paul R. Geisler, EdD, ATC
  • Michael B. Hudson, PhD, LAT, ATC
  • Brian Hughes, EdD, LAT, ATC
  • Russell McKune, MS, ATC
  • David A. Middlemas, EdD, ATC, CCISM
  • Susan A. Norkus, PhD, ATC
  • Jennifer D. Rheeling, MS, ATC
  • Kavin Tsang, PhD, ATC
  • John Phillip Vardiman, PhD, LAT, ATC
  • Timothy S. Weston, MEd, ATC
  • George Wham Jr., EdD, ATC, SCAT

2018

  • Kellie C. Huxel Bliven, PhD, ATC
  • Lorin Cartwright, MS, ATC, CAA
  • Neil Curtis, EdD, LAT, ATC
  • Stephen Donohue
  • Scott Lawrence, ATC
  • Linda Levy, EdD, ATC
  • Dani Moffit, PhD, LAT, ATC
  • Forrest Pecha, MS, LAT, ATC
  • Stacey Ritter, MS, ATC
  • Matthew Rothbard, EdD, ATC
  • LesLee Taylor, PhD, LAT, ATC
  • Patricia Tripp, PhD, LAT, ATC
  • Lisa Walker, ATC

2017

  • Kenneth L. Cameron, PhD, MPH, ATC
  • Ray Castle, PhD, LAT, ATC
  • Marisa A. Colston, PhD, ATC
  • Laura L. Harris, PhD, AT
  • Jay Hertel, PhD, ATC, FNATA
  • Lisa Kluchurosky, MEd, ATC
  • Barry E. McGlumphy, EdD, LAT, ATC
  • Susan McGowen, PhD, LAT, ATC, EMT
  • Valerie Moody PhD, LAT, ATC, CSCS
  • Bonnie L. Van Lunen, PhD, ATC, FNATA
  • Ericka P. Zimmerman, EdD, LAT, ATC
  • Steven M. Zinder, PhD, ATC

2016

  • James W. Berry, EdD, ATC, NREMT
  • Linda Bobo, PhD, ATC, LAT
  • Richard Burkholder, MS, ATC
  • G. Larry Cooper, MS, ATC, LAT
  • David Csillan, MS, LAT, ATC
  • John Donnell, MS, ATC, LAT
  • Mary Susan Guyer, DPE, ATC, LAT
  • Richard Mark Laursen, MS, ATC
  • Mark A. Merrick, PhD, ATC, FNATA
  • Katherine R. Newsham, PhD, ATC
  • John T. Parsons, PhD, ATC
  • Kenneth Rogers, PhD, ATC
  • Eric L. Sauers, PhD, ATC, FNATA
  • Tamara C. Valovich McLeod, PhD, ATC, FNATA
  • Andrew P. Winterstein, PhD, ATC

2015

  • David C. Berry, PhD, AT, ATC
  • Helen M. Binkley, PhD, ATC, CSCS
  • William David Carr, PhD, ATC
  • Tanya Dargusch, ATC, LAT
  • Kevin Guskiewicz, PhD, ATC
  • Valerie W. Herzog, EdD, LAT, ATC
  • William Holcomb, PhD, ATC, FNATA
  • Ky E. Kugler, EdD, ATC
  • Jan C. Lauer, MA, ATC, CSCS
  • Michael G. Miller, PhD, EdD, ATC, CSCS
  • Darin A. Padua, PhD, ATC
  • Bart Peterson, MSS, ATC
  • William A. Pitney, EdD, ATC, FNATA
  • Clark E.Simpson, MBA, ATC, LAT
  • Erik E. Swartz, PhD, ATC, FNATA
  • James Thornton, MA, ATC, CES
  • Paul A. Ullucci, Jr., DPT, ATC, SCS
  • Ron H. Walker Ed.D., LAT, ATC, CSCS

2014

  • Thomas Abdenour, ATC, PES, CES
  • Dale F. Blair MS, ATC, CSCS
  • Sara Brown, MS, ATC
  • Mitchell L. Cordova, PhD, ATC, FNATA
  • Craig Denegar, PhD, ATC, PT, FNATA
  • Thomas William Kaminski, PhD, ATC, FNATA
  • Tim Kelly, ATC
  • Jackie J. Kingma, DPT, ATC, PA
  • Jill A. Manners, MS, ATC, PT
  • Linda Mazzoli, MS, ATC, PTA
  • Robb Rehberg, PhD, ATC, NREMT
  • Russell Richardson, Ed D, ATC
  • J. Timothy Sensor, ATC
  • Cynthia Trowbridge, PhD, ATC, LAT
  • Benito J. Velasquez, DA, ATC, LAT
  • Craig A. Voll, Jr., ATC

2013

  • Donald Bagnall, ATC, EMT
  • Ned Bergert, MS, ATC
  • Doug Casa, PhD, ATC, FNATA
  • Michael Chisar, MPT, ATC, SCS
  • Cynthia Clivio, MEd, ATC
  • Mark Coberley, MS, ATC, LAT
  • Brian Conway, ATC
  • Joe Greene, MS, ATC
  • Michael Higgins, PhD, ATC, PT, CSCS
  • Mark Hoffman, PhD, ATC
  • Jennifer Hootman, PhD, ATC, FNATA, FACSM
  • Mitzi Laughlin, PhD, ATC, LAT
  • Tara Lepp, MS, ATC
  • Carl Mattacola, PhD, ATC, FNATA
  • Gayle Olson, MS, ATC
  • Ron O'Neil, ATC
  • Rochel Rittgers, ATC
  • David Stuckey, ATC, LAT
  • Timothy Uhl, PhD, ATC, PT

2012

  • Marty Bradley, MS, ATC, VAT-L
  • Richard M. Burkholder, ATC, LAT
  • Michael Carroll, MEd, ATC, LAT
  • Micki Cuppett, EdD, ATC
  • George Curtis, AT
  • Terry DeWitt, PhD, ATC
  • Tory R. Lindley, MA, ATC
  • Martin “Marty” Matney, MBA, ATC, AT/L
  • Mary L. Mundrane-Zweiacher, ATC, PT, CHT
  • Terry Noonan, MS, ATC, ART
  • Katherine B. Pirog, ATC
  • Pamela D. Rast, PhD, ATC, LAT
  • Kelli Brewer Sabiston, MA, LAT, ATC
  • Chris Snoddy, MA, ATC, LAT
  • Lorna R. Strong, MS, ATC, LAT
  • Robert Timothy Williams, MEd, LMT, ATC
  • Kyle Wilson, MEd, ATC, LAT

2011

  • Richie Bancells, MS, ATC
  • Kris Boyle-Walker, ATC, MPT, OCS, CHT
  • Marisa Brunett, MS, ATC, LAT
  • Lori Dewald, EdD, ATC, CHES, F-AAHE
  • Greg Gardner, EdD, ATC
  • Rick Griffin, MS, ATC
  • John Hauth, EdD, ATC
  • Craig Holz, MS, ATC, LAT
  • Chris Ingersoll, PhD, AT, ATC
  • Wayne Kendrick, MA, ATC
  • Doug Kleiner, PhD, ATC, FNATA
  • Jeff Konin,PhD, ATC, PT, FACSM, FNATA
  • Jeff McKibbin, MEd, ATC, LAT
  • Bernadette Olson, EdD, AT, ATC
  • Jamie Reed, ATC, LAT
  • James Scifers, DScPT, PT, SCS, LAT, ATC
  • Jeff Stone, MEd, ATC
  • Sully Sullivan, MS, ATC
  • Charlie Thompson, MS, ATC
  • William Walker, MA, ATC, AT
  • Matt Webber, AT, ATC

2010

  • Kent Biggerstaff, ATC
  • Robert Casmus, MS, ATC, LAT
  • Tony Fitzpatrick, MA, ATC, LAT
  • Mark Letendre, ATC
  • D. Eric McDonnell, MEd, ATC, LAT
  • Timothy Neal, MS, ATC
  • Kimberly Peer, EdD, ATC, LAT
  • Dale Rudd, MS, ATC, CES
  • Patrick Sexton, EdD, ATC
  • Rick Shaw, MS, ATC, LAT
  • René Revis Shingles, PhD, ATC
  • Barrie Steele, MS, ATC, LAT
  • Katie Walsh, EdD, ATC

2009

  • George Davies, DPT, ATC, SCS
  • David Draper, EdD, ATC, LAT
  • Robert Kersey, PhD, ATC, CSCS
  • Mary K. Kirkland, MS, ATC, LAT, CSCS
  • Eugene J. Monahan, ATC
  • Jeffrey Monroe, MS, ATC
  • Catherine Ortega, EdD, ATC, PT
  • Andrew Paulin, ATC

2008

  • Sally Perkins, MS, ATC
  • Marcia Anderson
  • Turner A. Blackburn
  • Louise Fincher
  • Thomas E. Koto
  • John Norwig
  • John Ransone
  • Brian Robinson
  • Michael Sitler

2007

  • Kathy Dieringer
  • Danny Foster
  • Michael Goldenberg
  • Carolyn Greer
  • Stephanie Lennon
  • Ralph Reiff
  • Kathleen Stroia
  • Thomas Weidner
  • Gary Wilkerson

2006

  • Jon Almquist
  • John Anderson
  • T. Ross Bailey
  • Christine "Tina" Bonci
  • Russ Cagle
  • John Davis
  • Chris Gillespie
  • Scott Linaker
  • William "Bill" Lyons
  • Brent Mangus
  • Paul Newman
  • Dan Sedory
  • Chad Starkey
  • Larry Starr
  • Jane Steinberg
  • Chris Troyanos
  • Kenneth Wright

2005

  • Stephen L. Antonopulos
  • Fran Babich
  • Lynn C. Bott
  • David P. Carrier
  • Ron Courson
  • Denise M. Fandel
  • Joseph A. Iezzi
  • Marjorie A. King
  • Malissa Martin
  • Michael E. O'Shea
  • John Powell
  • Sandra J. Shultz
  • Jennifer A. Stone
  • Antoinette VanDePutte
  • Rick Zappala

2004

  • Patricia Aronson
  • Nancy Burke
  • Jim Clover
  • Dave Colt
  • Mark Gibson
  • Elton Hawley
  • MaryBeth Horodyski
  • Patrick Lamboni
  • James Mackie
  • Tony Marek
  • Sally Nogle
  • Bobby Patton
  • David Pursley
  • Richard Ray
  • Jay Shoop
  • Paula Turocy
  • Jerry Weber
  • Keith Webster

2003

  • Stephen Bair
  • Jeffrey S. Cooper
  • Michael Ferrara
  • Robert T. Floyd
  • James Gossett
  • David Green
  • Susan Hillman
  • Kathleen Laquale
  • Larry Leverenz
  • Richard Pierce
  • Edward Ryan
  • D. Rod Walters
  • Frank Walters
  • Bill Wissen

2002

  • Bill G. Bean
  • Cynthia “Sam” Booth
  • A. J. Duffy, III
  • John W. Harvey
  • Daniel N. Hooker
  • Chuck Kimmel, Jr.
  • Robert M. Nevil
  • Arnold L. Thomas
  • Jerry A. Whetstone
  • Michael J. Willets
  • Carl L. Williams, Jr.

2001

  • Randy Biggerstaff
  • David H. Craig
  • Bernard DePalma
  • Albert Green
  • Sue Stanley-Green
  • Luis “Tony” Ortiz
  • Louis Osternig
  • Jiro Shikakura
  • Thomas S. Woods

2000

  • Joanne S. Silken
  • Gretchen A. Schlabach
  • Jack A. Redgren
  • Walter “Kip” Smith
  • William H. McDonald
  • Dennis A. Miller
  • Glen R. Snow
  • Steven D. Risinger
  • Frank Grimaldi
  • Dan Rasor
  • William F. “Bucky” Taylor
  • Kenneth L. Knight
  • Theodore C. Quedenfeld

1999

  • Anita H. Clark
  • Benjamin P. Davidson
  • Dennis Lee Hart
  • Thomas H. Jones
  • Jim Laughnane
  • Robert H. Lester
  • John R. Lopez
  • Sanford E. “Sandy” Miller
  • Julie Max
  • William E. Prentice, Jr.
  • Wendy Ann Runley
  • Charles S. Yates

1998

  • Ronald J. Carroll
  • Dale Googins
  • Robert Gray
  • Catherine Ann Grove
  • Gary Hazelrigg
  • Richard L. Hoover
  • Peter J. Koehneke
  • David H. Perrin
  • Ronald A. Sendre
  • Kathleen A. Schniedwind
  • Charles Tessendorf
  • Charles D. Thayer
  • Patricia Troesch
  • Charles Vosler
  • Thomas Woodcock

1997

  • Peter Carlon
  • Gary Lake
  • Edward T. Crowley
  • Jerry Robertson
  • Kenneth F. Kladnik

1996

  • A. John Andersen
  • Ronnie P. Barnes
  • Gerald W. Bell
  • Dan Campbell
  • Peggy Ann Houglum
  • Gary D. Reinholtz
  • Dennis G. Sealey
  • Joseph W. O’Toole

1995

  • Marjorie J. Albohm
  • Donald Chu
  • Phillip Hossler
  • James Douglas May
  • Joseph Camillone
  • Earlene Durrant
  • Roger Kalisiak
  • John W. Schrader
  • Richard J. Carey
  • James B. Gallaspy
  • Donald D. Lowe
  • Karen R. Toburen

1994

  • Robert L. Beeten
  • James M. Booher
  • William Buhler
  • Jeffrey D. Fair
  • Kent P. Falb
  • Joseph J. Godek
  • Carl F. Krein
  • Ken Locker
  • Robert J. Moore
  • C. Leroy Mullins, Jr.
  • Charles J. Redmond
  • Robert C. Reese
  • Kent C. Scriber
  • Mark J. Smaha
  • John C. Spiker
  • James P. Whitesel
  • Logan W. Wood, Jr.