Athletic Trainers of the Year
2026
Vito Perriello Secondary Schools AT of the Year
Mackenzie Enterline, MS, LAT, ATC
College/University AT of the Year
Brittany Smith, MS, LAT, ATC
Researcher of the Year
Jatin P. Ambegaonkar, PhD, LAT, ATC
Educator of the Year
Connie L. Peterson, PhD, LAT, ATC
2025
Meghan Shifflett, MS, LAT, ATC, PES
Andy Carter, MS, LAT, ATC
Joshua Williamson, DAT, LAT, ATC
Tom Campbell, PhD, LAT, ATC
John Coots, EdD, LAT, ATC
2024
Elizabeth Washington, MS, LAT, ATC, CEAS
Kwadwo Donkor, LAT, ATC
Anne Bryan, MS, LAT, ATC
Julie Cavallario, PhD, LAT, ATC
Amanda Carter, MS, LAT, ATC
2023
Clinical Emerging Practices AT of the Year
Scott Cook, MS, LAT, ATC BIO
Vito Periello Secondary School AT of the Year
Siaura Saville, MS, LAT, ATC BIO
College/University AT of the Year
Lauren Sander, MS, ATC, LAT BIO
AT Researcher of the Year
Shane V. Caswell, PhD, ATC, LAT, CSCS BIO
AT Educator of the Year
Kate Doctor, LAT, ATC BIO
2022
Brice Snyder, MSAT, LAT, ATC, OTC
Patricia Aronson, PhD, LAT, LPTA, ATC
Devon Serrano, DAT, LAT, ATC, NREMT
Jessica Kotelnicki, MEd, LAT, ATC, CSCS, PES
John Goetschius, PhD, LAT, ATC
2021
Katie Grover, MS, LAT, ATC
Kimberly Pritchard, PhD, LAT, ATC
Julie Cavallario, PhD, LAT, ATC
Ellen Hicks, MS, LAT, ATC
Brad Jones, M.Ed, LAT, ATC
Ryan McCann, PhD, LAT, ATC, CSCS
Jacob Resch, PhD, LAT, ATC
2020
Emily I. Evans, EdD, LAT, ATC
Caroline Wesley Siler MS, ATC
Paul A. Peterson MA, LAT, ATC
Susan Saliba, PhD, ATC, PT
2019
Rose Schmieg, DHSc, LAT, ATC, PT, OCS, CSCS, CISSN
Alessa Lennon, MS, LAT, ATC
Heather Murphy, MS, LAT, ATC
2018
Michele Heisel, MS, LAT, ATC
Michael Kotelnicki, MS, LAT, ATC
Jay Hertel, PhD, LAT, ATC, FNATA
Jennifer Armstrong, MS, LAT, ATC
2017
Anna Sedory
Andy Carter
Charles "Chase" Hale
Danny Carroll
2016
Scott Lawrenson
Jamie Frye
Matt Hoch
Sara Whiteside
2015
Tom Kuster, MS, ATC, PES, CES
Bonnie Van Lunen, PhD, ATC
Tom Bowman, PhD, ATC, PES
Mike Puglia, LAT, ATC
2014
Lance Fujiwara
Candace Parham
Jatin Ambegaonkar
Jessie Shanks
2013
Jenna Page
Sue Saliba
Jay Sedory
Joe Hart
Breanne Piatt
2012
Robert Liebau
Ian Rogol
Debbie Bradney
Shane Caswell
John Reynolds
Nomination overview
Please email Letters of Recommendation separately to: [email protected] by October 1st.
The VATA Presidential Service Award is an honor reserved for an individual or group in recognition of their service, contribution, or grassroots effort to the profession of athletic training.
Through dedication, selflessness and hard work, their contribution has promoted not only the common mission of the Virginia Athletic Trainers' Association, but has influenced the patient population in which they serve.
At of the Year Award Categories
Athletic Trainer of the Year Nominations are accepted annually in the following categories:
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College/University Athletic Trainer of the Year - Must be >50% clinical
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Vito Periello Secondary School Athletic Trainer of the Year
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Clinical & Emerging Practice Athletic Trainer of the Year
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Educator of the Year
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Researcher of the Year
Guidelines for Submission
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The sponsoring member must fill out the nomination form online and submit a letter of recommendation for the nominee.
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Additional letters of recommendation can be submitted with the nomination, but are not required (This individual does not need to be a member of the VATA.)
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Letters of Recommendation must be submitted electronically to [email protected]
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Nominations must be submitted by October 1st.
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Awards will be voted upon by the VATA Executive Council.
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Award winners will be recognized at the VATA Annual Meeting.
General Criteria for Nomination
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Nominees must be a current BOC Certified Athletic Trainer.
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Nominees must be licensed to practice athletic training in the state of Virginia.
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Nominees must be a member of the VATA.
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No self-nominations will be accepted.
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EXCEPTION: For the Clinical Emerging Practice Category ONLY, the individual does NOT need to be nominated by a member of the VATA. However, a certified athletic trainer MUST write a second letter of recommendation.
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Previous recipients of Athletic Trainer of the Year awards are not eligible for 10 years following previous receipt within the same professional setting category or for 5 years following previous receipt in a different category.
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The President of the VATA is not eligible for nomination.
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Nominations of recipients not chosen in the year of nomination will be carried over for one year and applied to the next year's nomination pool. Nominators will be contacted to confirm their desire for their nomination to carry over to the next year.
