This has been an exciting year for athletic training (AT).
Last fall we submitted our Academic Unit Review to the University and received positive feedback on that document. We also submitted our self-study report to the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). Both documents provided the opportunity to review our program and make any needed adjustments. AT is a developing profession and we are doing our best to evolve with it. While those tasks have occupied much attention, our greatest accomplishment is our students. Eight students were inducted into the Iota Tau Alpha Athletic Training Honor Society and, once again, our seniors passed the BOC Exam at a high rate (18 of 19 passed on the first attempt, with three left to take it). Whether heading off to graduate school or taking initial employment, they will represent Illinois State well. Our junior interns are heading to exciting sites, including Disney Wide World of Sports in Orlando, the San Francisco49ers, the Cubs Triple A affiliate in Iowa, and with a traveling wrestling camp. Finally, we admitted the largest class in recent years this past January — 26 students. The future is promising for the athletic training education program.
Athletic Training Club members also had a busy year. They helped build the school Homecoming float and, while we didn’t win, it was a lot of fun. The club sent a group of students to the Illinois Athletic Trainer’s Association annual meeting in Normal. In addition to attending the educational sessions of the meeting, students competed against other universities in the annual Quiz Bowl. We didn’t win, but that just means we will try harder next time.
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KNR Point of pride: ELM Scholar Lecturer Kathleen Janz [/alert]
The club participated in many charitable activities this year such as the Giving Tree charity, sponsoring a youth baseball team, and hosting a blood drive. The Giving Tree is a charity where the club was able to purchase and wrap gifts for underprivileged children during the holidays. To celebrate Athletic Training Month, the club coordinated and hosted a Red Cross Blood Drive in the Athletic Training Lab. The initial goal was to collect 36 usable units of blood; however, when the day was over the club had collected 54! All thoroughly enjoyed the experience and are anxious to continue the blood drive as an annual event.
The athletic training education program has two initiatives for 2012–2013. First, we plan to host a successful site visit and obtain reaccreditation from CAATE. Second, we will open the Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Therapy (SMART) Clinic in the Athletic Training Lab this fall.
