April VATA Newsletter 
Executive Council Report
VATA Pulse
Check out this month's updates from the current VATA President! The VATA Pulse, a monthly video update, is your go-to source for insights and information to help you keep the "pulse" on all things VATA!
Region Representatives Reports
Regional Representatives
Shenandoah Region
Mark your calendars for our next VATA AT Lunch Table in May! Our Shenandoah Valley Region Representative Kwadwo Donkor hosts a virtual open forum where athletic trainers can come together to discuss current topics in the profession.
Date and Time: Thursday, May 28th at 11am
Guest Speaker: Dr. Thomas Newman
Topic: Emerging Athletic Training Settings, Providing Care in ROTC
Registration: To register, please click here or visit https://us02web.zoom.us/
These sessions will not be recorded to allow authentic conversation.
Tidewater REgion
Save the date for the 19th Annual Donald W. Lewis Pediatric & Adolescent Sports Medicine Update on June 11th, 2026!
Need to lookup which region you represent or how to contact your Region Rep? Visit vata.us/Regional_Representatives.
Committee Reports
Scholarships Committee
Applications for the Tom Kuster Memorial Scholarship and the Tom Jones Scholarship are due by April 25th!
The Tom Kuster Memorial Scholarship was established to award a deserving student in the final year of an Athletic Training Education Program in Virginia. This grant of $500.00 is purposed to assist the graduating student with basic healthcare professional needs as they transition to practice. This grant money can be used for supplies, equipment, continuing education, etc. that the student feels are necessary for them to be successful as a professional.
The Tom Jones Scholarship was established to award a one-time $500 scholarship to a deserving student who is admitted and entering their first year of a CAATE-accredited Athletic Training Education Program within Virginia.
Committee Chair Transitions
Education compliance chair
The Education Compliance Chair position is up for appointment. If you are interested in this position, please send a letter of interest and your resume to VATA President Kirk Armstrong ([email protected]).
Duties
- Serve the VATA by maintaining compliance with the Board of Certification (BOC) Approved Provider program. Maintaining this compliance allows VATA to offer approved continuing education to ATs.
- Responsible for ensuring that all BOC Approved Provider standards are met, as well as the completion of relevant reports to the BOC as requested.
Student Affairs Committee Co-Chairs
Please welcome Samm Scarneo-Miller and Peyton Clark as the new Co-Chairs for the Student Affairs Committee! Thank you Jenn Cuchna for your many years of service as the Chair!
Upcoming Events
2026 VATA Elections
It is election season! Applications for Executive Council and Regional Representative positions are due by April 23rd. Voting will begin in May. The following positions are up for election or re-election:
Executive Council
- Treasurer
Regional Representatives
- Western Region
- Eastern Region
- Tidewater Region
Committee chair
- Education Compliance Chair
