Congratulations, 2026 Committee Award Recipients
Each year, NATA’s committees recognize those who are impacting and advancing the athletic training profession with awards honoring their achievements and contributions.
Whether elevating health care within their communities, expanding the profession around the globe or teaching the next generation of athletic trainers, these ATs are helping shape the future of athletic training through their leadership, innovation and commitment to service.
Congratulations to all of our 2026 committee award recipients. They will be recognized at various committee events throughout the 77th NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo June 29-July 2 in Philadelphia.
Continue reading for a list of this year’s recipients.
Career Advancement Committee
Career Advancement Committee National Distinction Award
Alli Powell, DAT, LAT, ATC
Early Processionals’ Committee
Early Professionals’ Excellence Award
Mitchell Anderson, MS, LAT, ATC
Ethnic Diversity Advisory Committee
Barnes/Horton/Johnson EDAC Entrepreneurship Award
Erin Hassler, DAT, ATC, LAT
Bill Chisolm EDAC Lifetime Achievement Award
Lori Vazquez, MS, AT Ret.
Frank Walters EDAC Trailblazer Award
Axel Moncada, MA, LAT, ATC
Marsha Grant-Ford EDAC Distinguished Research Award
Tamerah Hunt, PhD, ATC
René Shingles EDAC Apple Award
Michael Douglas, DAT, LAT, ATC
Executive Council for Education
Distinguished Educator Award
Michael Higgins, PhD, ATC/PT, CSCS
Emerging Educator Award
Nicolette Harris, PhD, LAT, ATC
Preceptor of the Year Award
Mitchell Anderson, MS, LAT, ATC
Professional Development Excellence Award
Samuel Wilkins, PhD, ATC
Government Affairs Committee
Daniel L. Campbell Legislative Award Class II
Tennessee Athletic Trainers’ Society
Delaware Athletic Trainers’ Association
Impact Advocacy
Dan Herring, MS, ATC, CSCS
William T. Griffin Award for Outstanding Leadership in Legislative Advocacy
Chris King, LAT, ATC
Historical Committee
Pioneer Athletic Trainer Legacy Award
William Buckner
William Donovan
Harrison Weaver
Intercollegiate Council for Sports Medicine
Head Athletic Trainer of the Year
NCAA Division I: Yumi Kuscher, MS, ATC, CSCS
NCAA Division II: Jeff Sage, MS, LAT, ATC
NAIA: Zach Hobson, PhD, LAT, ATC
Two-Year Institution: Jamie DeRollo, DAT, MBA, ATC
Staff Athletic Trainer of the Year
Katie Wyeth, MS, LAT, ATC
Above and Beyond Award
Emma Meore, MSAT, LAT, ATC
Doug Boersma New Horizon Award
Megan Kennedy, MS, LAT, ATC
International Committee
International Service Award
Glen Bergeron, PhD, CAT(C)
Journal of Athletic Training
2025 JAT Kenneth L. Knight Award for the Outstanding Research Manuscript
“Influence of Adherence to a Helmetless-Tackling and Blocking Training Intervention on Head-Impact Exposure Rates in Hawaiian High School Football”
Erik Swartz, PhD, ATC, Jay Myers, PhD, JongSoo Lee, PhD, Steven Broglio, PhD, ATC, Troy Furutani, MS, ATC, Ross Oshiro, MS, ATC, Gerard Gioia, PhD, Darian Brothers, MS, ATC, Kiera Glodwski, MS, ATC, Ivet Lloansi Rodriguez, MS, ATC, Lauren Meyer, MS, ATC, and Mathan Murata, PhD
2025 JAT Clint Thompson Award Outstanding Clinical Practice Advancement Manuscript
“Factors That Impact Time to Athletic Trainer Evaluation Following Acute Injury Among Secondary School Athletes: A Report From the Athletic Training Practice-Based Research Network”
Madison Renner, MS, ATC, Kenneth Lam, ScD, ATC, Emily Srygler, MA, Stephanie Adler, MA, Jennifer Chambers, MA, and David Bell, PhD, ATC
Journal of Athletic Training-Education and Practice
2025 Journal of Athletic Training-Education & Practice Award for Outstanding Manuscript
“Frequency and Attributing Factors to Food Insecurity Experienced by Professional Athletic Training Students”
Randi Needham, MSAT, LAT, ATC, Nancy Prange, PhD, RDN, LDN, Nicholas Grahovec, PhD, LAT, ATC, and Tyler Wood, PhD, LAT, ATC
LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee
NATA LGBTQ+ Award for Inclusive Excellence
Amanda Tritsch, PhD, LAT, ATC
Justin Rogers, MEd, LAT, ATC
Secondary School Athletic Trainers’ Committee
Athletic Trainer of the Year
District One: Gregory White, MS, ATC, LAT
District Two: Michael Prybicien, MA, ATC, LAT
District Three: Paul Rupp, MS, LAT, ATC
District Four: Evan Bader, MAT, AT, ATC
District Five: Nate Allgaier, LAT, ATC
District Six: Karina Garcilazo, LAT, ATC, OFNC
District Seven: Justin Segotta, MA, LAT, ATC
District Eight: Sarah Goble, MA, ATC
District Eleven: John David Matzoll, ATC
Servant’s Heart Award
District One: John Ryan, EdD, LAT, ATC
District Three: Lajoy Paige, MS, LAT, ATC
District Five: Rhianna Freiburger, DAT, LAT, ATC
District Six: Tom Woods (honored posthumously)
District Seven: Zachary Olivarez, MS, LAT, ATC
District Eight: Jacqueline Davidson, MS, ATC, PRT-C
District Nine: J.P. Hamilton, MS, LAT, ATC
District Ten: Ciara Ashworth, LAT, ATC
District Eleven: Betty Pollock, MS, LAT, ATC
State Association Advisory Committee
Emerging State Leader
Mackenzie Harmon, MS, LAT, ATC
Excellence in State Leadership
Gerard White, MEd, LAT, ATC
Student Leadership Committee
Bobby Gunn Student Leadership Award
Emily Dean
Bridget Donachie
Adoriana Howard
Ashley Myers
Katherine Pagnamenta
Madeleine Peterson
America Ramirez
Nicole Rates
Megan Scheffe
Alex Wilson
Chuck Kimmell First-time Attendee Award
Chaeeun Hong
Rob Hunt
