HSU Insider

Athletic Training Student to Represent Texas at National Conference

• By Dave Coffield
• Posted December 17, 2008 4:59 PM
• 0 Comments

Emily Jones, an HSU athletic training major, was one of only two students in the State of Texas chosen to attend the National Athletic Trainers Association's iLead Leadership Conference in Washington, DC, in February, 2009. She joins Jillian Fiannandrea-Mustion from Angelo State University in representing the Texas State Athletic Trainers' Association (TSATA) at the prestigious leadership forum.

The National Athletic Trainers of America (NATA) asked the top athletic training students from around the nation to participate in the leadership program held in conjunction with the 2009 Capitol Hill Day Campaign and the Athletic Training Educator's Conference. The interactive program, which helps develop important leadership skills, will prepare students for participation in NATA's StarTRACKS leadership programs. Currently, over 50% of NATA membership is under the age of 32, yet they have little involvement on committees and in leadership positions that assist in decisions affecting the future of the profession. NATA's leadership programs are an initiative to engage representatives of this vital segment of its membership in its internal governance process. Another important goal is to get students engaged in the NATA legislative process. Jones, also an HSU Honors student, will meet with Texas congressional representatives to discuss athletic training issues.

Athletic training students from across the state who maintained a 3.0 grade point average, and a solid track record in leadership and service were eligible to apply to the conference. Once applications were received and narrowed to the six top applicants, finalists were interviewed by the chair of the TSATA board of directors to determine which would best represent TSATA at the conference. All expenses for the trip and the conference will be paid by TSATA.