Servant’s Heart Award

The Servant’s Heart Award recognizes deserving secondary school ATs in each district for their service to the athletic training profession, their schools and their communities.

This award recognizes ATs who have:

  • Demonstrated a long-term commitment to the secondary school setting.
  • Provided public awareness, promotion and education about the AT’s role in their local communities.
  • Helped establish and maintain the athletic trainers’ presence in the secondary school setting.
  • Promoted the secondary school setting as a career-destination.
  • Exhibited a consistent and exemplary level of student athletic health care.
  • Provided public awareness, promotion and education for sports safety and injury prevention.

Eligibility

  • NATA member in good standing.
  • Current BOC certification.
  • Current NPI#
  • At least 75% of current job responsibility must involve primary health care of secondary school athletes.
  • Currently employed as a full-time athletic trainer (or equivalent) in a high school setting OR retired, if:
    • Retired within the last two calendar years.
    • Meet all other eligibility requirements and criteria for nomination. 

Criteria

  • AT has made progressive and substantial improvements to his/her athletic training program.
  • AT provides extraordinary service to local community.
  • Current or former member of at least one committee or board as an athletic trainer. (Membership may be athletic training related at state, regional or national level or can be on another sportsafety/healthcare board.)

Nomination

Nominations are currently being accepted for the 2026 Servant's Heart Award and can be made through OpenWater.

Nominations will be accepted through Dec. 31, 2025.

Nomination Process 

Nominators must submit a letter (500-750 words) on the candidate’s contribution to improve their secondary school’s athletic health care program. The nominator letter should specifically address the candidate’s impact on their secondary school athletic health care program along with their advocacy and service to the profession, emphasizing efforts and contributions within the last year. Individuals cannot self-nominate.

Nominations may be initiated by one of the following:

  • School administrator (i.e. principal, vice principal, superintendent, athletic director)
  • Athletic health care team member (i.e. athletic trainer, team-supervising physician, physician, physical therapist, school nurse, registered dietitian, strength and conditioning coach)
  • Coach
  • Parent

Upon nomination, the nominee will receive an email alerting him/her to the nomination and provide instructions to accept/decline the nomination and complete the application.

Candidate

Along with the application, candidates must also submit the following in PDF format:

  • Résumé or CV
  • Two letters of support. Support letters must be one-page max and should highlight the nominee’s qualifications for the award.
    • One must be from one of the following:
      • School administrator (i.e. principal, vice principal, superintendent, athletic director)
      • Athletic health care team member (i.e. athletic trainer, team-supervising physician, physician, physical therapist, school nurse, registered dietitian, strength and conditioning coach)
      • Coach
      • Parent
  • Athletic Training Student Aide Program information in PDF format, if applicable

Award Winners

All district winners will be notified each year to allow adequate time for travel arrangements to be made. Awardees and minimum requirements are determined at the discretion of the SSATC.

Servant’s Heart Award District Winners (11) will receive:

  • District Winner Award piece and recognition at the annual NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo