AT students garner national scholarships
Posted: May 14, 2013
Two A.T. Still University (ATSU) athletic training (AT) students have been selected for national scholarships by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Research & Education Foundation Scholarship Committee. “These are competitive, peer-reviewed scholarships, so it is quite an accomplishment to be selected,” said John Parsons, PhD, AT, associate professor and director, athletic training program, Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences.
Kelsey Picha, AT, ’14, was awarded the Gary Delforge scholarship, which is sponsored by the Friends of Gary Delforge. “Dr. Delforge was the founding director of the ATSU AT program, and was also my graduate school mentor at the University of Arizona,” said Dr. Parsons. He was a member of the NATA Professional Education Committee for more than 17 years; he also served on the NATA Board of Directors, keeping education at the center of his focus. Dr. Delforge was inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame in 1988, and is also a member of the Arizona Athletic Trainers’ Association and Rocky Mountain Athletics Trainers’ Association Halls of Fame.
Suzie Aparicio, AT, ’14, was awarded the John A. Mayes Ethnic Diversity Advisory Committee (EDAC) scholarship. This scholarship is provided to a qualified AT student from a diverse ethnic background. Dr. Parsons said that Mr. Mayes has worked tirelessly to champion ethnic diversity initiatives and to promote healthcare and higher education in the minority community. He served as the national liaison to the NATA’s Ethnic Diversity Advisory Committee, and his outstanding leadership efforts have been recognized with the NATA Service Award and also articles in The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, NATA News Journal and the AMA Health Care Career News.
Kelsey Picha
Suzie Aparicio