From the Director

As the school year comes to a close, I can’t help but to think about all that our athletic training students have accomplished this year:

• In the fall, Makenna Hamilton ’13 presented her case study at annual meeting of the Indiana Athletic Trainers Association in Indianapolis alongside faculty mentor Erin Foreman. See Makenna's poster.
• In December, four new students were accepted into the athletic training program.
• In April, we accepted another eight students into the undergraduate program, along with eight graduate students in the entry level master’s program. 
• Also in April, 10 students (six undergraduate and four graduate) passed the Board of Certification (BOC) exam for a 100 percent first time pass rate!

It was also a great year for professional development:

• In the spring, the Bill Cramer Professional Development Award was awarded to the MU Athletic Training Program. (See article below.)
• Professionals with various areas of expertise came to campus to speak on a variety of relevant topics, including Chris Nowinski, author of Head Games: Football’s Concussion Crisis. (Thanks to Zach Dougal for scheduling this.)
• Manchester was awarded a foundational county grant to sponsor a youth triathlon to help fight childhood obesity for students in grades 1-6.

I’ve said it before, but it’s been a great year! We wish our students and faculty a wonderful summer and are looking forward to numerous accomplishments in the fall.

- Jeff Beer, Director of Undergraduate Athletic Training Program

And now to brag about this year’s graduates …

2012-2013 Athletic Training majors pose for a group photo.

MU athletic training graduates are in demand. Whether it’s a bright and shiny new job or acceptance into a graduate or professional program, this year’s seniors already have successful futures awaiting them after Graduation Day:

• Zack Boger will pursue a master’s in exercise physiology at Southern Illinois University.
• Taylor Harris will pursue a master’s in sports administration at Ball State University.
• Rachel Kloentrup has accepted position with an Orthopaedic group in Kentucky to work as a physician extender.
• Peter Kowalczyk will pursue a master’s in physical therapy at Midwestern University.
• Nick Salupo will attend medical school at Marian University.
• Miranda Scher: GA (SportONE/ Indiana Tech) (Masters: MBA)
• Brooke Waddups will enroll in a physical therapy program and transition into a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program.
  
  

MU students pass at 100%

All 10 Manchester University students who took the Board of Certification (BOC) exam this April passed on their first attempt and officially became certified athletic trainers when they received their diplomas on May 19. The group includes six majoring in the University’s four-year undergraduate athletic training program, and four seeking the two-year Master of Athletic Training (MAT) degree. Students are eligible to take the BOC exam by earning either degree. Congratulations to these students:

Over the last two years, 100 percent of Manchester MAT students have passed the BOC exam on their first attempt. Good luck to a second group of this year’s graduates, who will sit for the exam in June.

Athletic Training Club is again Manchester’s best

Accepting MU Organization of the Year honors are Zack Boger, Faculty Advisor Erin Foreman, Brooke Waddups and Nick Salupo.

For the second straight year, Manchester University Athletic Training Club has been awarded Club of the Year honors by Manchester Activities Council.

Club members can look back on an eventful year that included renovating a registered "historic home" in North Manchester for a low-income family, continuing an upper classman/first-year student mentoring program, and being crowned champions of the inaugural MU Club Olympics.

Club members heard professionals present at workshops (e.g., a chiropractor recently presented on the use of Kinesio tape), and a group attended a Fort Wayne Mad Ants game, where some students were chosen to play “Simon Says” during the halftime show.

The Club of the Year Award reinforces what club members already knew: MUATC continues to be one of Manchester's largest, most visible and successful extra-curricular clubs on campus and enriches its members with a variety of activities and learning opportunities.

Students aligned with internships for coming year

One advantage Manchester students enjoy is an opportunity to obtain an invaluable internship experience from a variety of regional venues. We’ll look forward to what these AT students will learn from their experiences starting this summer and during the 2013-2014 school year:

• Amanda Toney will intern for a physical therapy office through Parkview Hospital in the SportONE Fieldhouse in Fort Wayne.
• Alissa Niswonger will work at LaPorte Hospital in Physical Therapy/AT.
• Amanda Tassler will have a spring 2014 internship at Carroll High School in AT and Teaching.
• Jacob Meyer and Shelby Phillips will intern as teaching assistants at Manchester University.
  
  

National award goes to Manchester

Manchester’s Athletic Training program was the 2013 recipient of the Bill Cramer Professional Development Award. Given by Cramer Products, an industry leader in sports medicine and athletic training room supplies, the $2,000 award is given annually to promote the educational development of athletic trainers. Manchester is the sole recipient of this national honor and will use the award to help students attend the 2014 NATA Annual Meeting in Indianapolis.

Hope to see you at Homecoming

• Please save the date for the annual Athletic Training Alumni Cookout at Homecoming 2013, Oct. 5, behind the Physical Education and Recreation Center (PERC).  Look for more information to come from the next Injury Report and at www.manchester.edu.
  
  

Connect with us!

Please take this opportunity to update your profile and share your news with alumni and friends of the department. In addition, please indicate your interest in participating with the University in other ways. (If you have already expressed your interests, there is no need to respond again unless your preferences have changed).

To contact us, email Jeff Beer at jabeer@manchester.edu.