Congrats to the University of Delaware ATEP: Recipient of the 2016 Bill Cramer Award
Congratulations to the Athletic Training Education Program of the University of Delaware--the 2016 winner of the Bill Cramer Professional Development Award. The annual $2,000.00 award was created following the death of Bill Cramer in 2007 to honor his passion and enthusiasm for athletic training education.
Thomas Kaminski, ATC, is director of the University of Delaware’s CAATE-accredited Athletic Training Education Program, and Brian Winkler, president of the school’s Student Athletic Trainers’ Club, wrote the letter of application for the award.
Brian wrote, “The students at the University of Delaware are a one-of-a-kind group who continue to stay true to the core ideals of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association in the classroom, in the athletic training room, and in the community. The University of Delaware provides the knowledge and experiences to our students to make them successful athletic trainers. Dating back to 2009, our students boast a 94.4% first try pass rate on the BOC examination--well above the national average. Although the national average pass rate has been on the rise since 2009, climbing from 43.3% to 86.28% in 2014, our students excel beyond that. While a first time pass rate of 94.4% is impressive, the University of Delaware’s students overall pass rate for the last 7 years is 100%.”
The University of Delaware’s ATEP students must complete 200 observation hours their freshman year, and from sophomore year through senior year must log a minimum of 200 clinical hours per semester under the supervision of a certified athletic trainer or other qualified healthcare professional. In addition to clinical opportunities in physician offices, physical therapy clinics, and providing care for the school’s NCAA Division-I athletes, students complete a required high school clinical rotation. Many students participate in summer internships with professional sports teams that in recent years have included the Buffalo Bills, Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Union of the MLS, Washington Redskins, Baltimore Ravens, San Diego Chargers and Carolina Panthers.
All ATEP students are active participants in the Student Athletic Trainers’ Club (SATC). “The club strives to promote and educate the community on skills we have learned and honed over our educational experiences,” Brian writes. “We have held events at the local YMCA teaching local coaches and parents important taping and bracing techniques, emergency management skills, and proper equipment fitting. Our students are involved in the annual Medial Aspects of Sports Symposium, helping to teach advanced taping techniques to local health care professionals. In addition to reaching out to collaborate with local health care professionals, parents and coaches, SATC is actively involved in UDance, the fifth largest dance marathon in the nation held to raise money in support of ending childhood cancer. In our first year of participation, SATC raised $10,824 and helped the University of Delaware raise $1,701,667.81 in the fight against childhood cancer. As allied health professionals, we are determined to be actively involved in the fight against cancer and other devastating diseases. Each student in our program is determined to make a difference and is willing to go the extra mile in providing quality health care to all.”
University of Delaware’s ATEP students demonstrate great commitment to athletic training and education. For example, of the 19 students who graduated from the program in 2015, 10 went on to study athletic training in graduate school, two went on to graduate school in other allied health professions, and six accepted positions in a setting related to athletic training.
The athletic training education program at the University of Delaware is committed to promoting the ideals of the NATA, and producing students who excel in the classroom, in the athletic training room, and in the community, Brian wrote in his letter. “The students rely on both regional and national conferences to accommodate for the rapidly evolving field of athletic training and sports medicine. This is one of many reasons our students would be honored and ecstatic to continue to develop this knowledge with the assistance of the Bill Cramer award.”
“The University of Delaware ATEP has an impressive track record, and we congratulate them on their tremendous success,” says Rob Mogolov, Cramer’s general manager. “Bill Cramer was passionate about athletic training education, and it is easy to see that the faculty and students at University of Delaware share that same kind of passion. Congratulations to all of you!”