2014

Andrew Claypool is a senior at Ithaca College. To this point, he has earned a 3.82 grade point average as an Athletic Training major. The Director of the Athletic Training Program at Ithaca, Paul Geisler states, “Andrew is undoubtedly in the top 1% of all students I have ever encountered in my 15 years of higher education … He is always supremely prepared, deeply interested, and incredibly bright; and when combined with his outstanding sense of compassion, work ethic and time management…” Andrew has been awarded several other academic scholarships at Ithaca College and has earned a place on the Dean’s List in all four of his years. Courtney Gray, Clinical Associate Professor/Athletic Trainer for Ithaca College, wrote, “He has demonstrated a level of dedication, leadership, and motivation rarely seen in someone his age and has even volunteered to continue to work with the team during upcoming winter breaks. This year he has been an exemplary role model for the junior and sophomore students by always being mature and professional when working with athletes.” Andrew Claypool has demonstrated exceptional work in his undergraduate career and established himself as a worthy recipient of a scholarship. It is my pleasure to present, Andrew Claypool with the District 2 Scholarship for 2013-14.

Norville Yearwood is in his second year in the Athletic Training program at Dominican College. After transferring into Dominican he earned a 3.9 grade point average in his first semester. Jenna Hach, the Clinical Education Coordinator at Dominican had this to say about Norville, “He has shown himself to be one of our most academically talented students with a passion for athletic training and a strong moral character. As an adult student, he is self-motivated and prioritizes his professional experience. Mr. Yearwood is well liked and admired by his professors, preceptor/clinical instructors and peers.” To date, most of Norville’s experience has occurred while working at Hendrick Hudson High School. It is reported that he has earned the respect of the students very quickly. He is often missed on days he is not there, and is well-utilized when working. Norville is off to a great start and there is little doubt that he will be an exceptional Athletic Trainer and a credit to our profession as another quality product of New York State Athletic Training programs. It is my pleasure to present Norville Yearwood with the NYSATA Scholarship for 2013-14.

Michelle Bandell is a senior at Hofstra University. She currently holds a 3.8 grade point average as an Athletic Training Major and Physical Education and Sport Sciences Minor. David Riviere is an Athletic Trainer at Hofstra and he supervised Michelle. He states, “Where most students are nervous during their first solo clinic, Michelle had command of her tasks, and she presented the cases with the confidence of an upper level student.” Riviere continues, “Miss Bandell has been my best student in my eight semesters as a preceptor and I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this scholarship.” Michelle was elected to be the secretary of Hofstra’s Athletic Training Society and named to the Dean’s List several times. She has a bright future in Athletic Training and is a very worthy recipient of a NYSATA Scholarship. It is my pleasure to award Michelle Bandell the Ed Abramoski Scholarship for 2013-14.

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2013

Emily Hunt is in her junior year in the Athletic Training program at SUNY Cortland.  She is currently the president of the Athletic Training Club at Cortland.  For every semester at Cortland she has been on the President’s or Deans List.  Emily has volunteered at the 2012 Empire State Games and at Clarkstown High School.  The native of Congers, NY is currently maintaining a grade point average of 3.99.  Patrick Donnelly, Clinical Instructor and Athletic Trainer at Cortland, has known Emily for the past two years and serves as her Approved Clinical Instructor.  Regarding Emily he states, “Emily is unique from her classmates in the way that she prepares not only for her classes, but for her clinical field experiences as well.  She consistently studies, reviews material, and practices the skills learned in the classroom in an effort to ensure that she is prepared to meet the challenges inherent in the athletic training profession.”  Patrick believes, “that Emily is an excellent example of what an athletic training student should be, and a fine representative of the SUNY Cortland Athletic Training Education Program.”  It is our pleasure to award Emily the  2013 District II Scholarship.

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Julian Rivera is currently in his second year of active clinical experience at Ithaca College.  He maintains a 3.4 grade point average.  He was the winner of the prestigious Peggy R. Williams Award for Academic and Community Leadership in May of this year.  Julian is a Leadership Scholar and a Peer Mentor at Ithaca College.  Julian hails from Fishkill, NY and is working on both his Athletic Training degree as well as being part of the doctorate of physical therapy program.  Ithaca College’s Director of the Athletic Training Education Program, Paul Geisler is Julian’s academic advisor and states that he can “directly attest to Julian’s organizational skills and attentiveness to detail.  As one of a few, select students to be enrolled in our joint AT/DPT program, Julian has been much more responsible for controlling and overseeing his complicated and often truncated programs of studies to ensure proper passageway through the curricula for both degrees.”  Paul has “no doubts that [Julian] will be an industrious athletic trainer that will represent and help advance our profession when he finishes his formal education.”  It is our pleasure to award the 2013 Ed Abramoski scholarship to Julian Rivera.

Kara Miller hails from Le Roy, NY and is in her first year of active clinical experience at The College at Brockport.  She has volunteered at the Division III Gymnastic Nationals as well as the Empire State Games for the Physically Challenged in 2010 and 2012.  She currently maintains a 3.99 grade point average.  Kara’s Approved Clinical Instructor, Erin Chapman, states that, “Kara is a full package student.  She has excellent skills in the clinic that are carried over from the classroom.  She is highly self-motivated, always dependable, and willing to go the extra mile.”  Erin continues, “Kara is worthy of this scholarship because she has the drive to continue educating herself in the athletic training field to ensure the health and safety of athletes as well as continuing to drive the athletic training profession.”  It is our pleasure to award the 2013 NYSATA scholarship to Kara Miller.