WSATA EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE AWARDS
The Excellence in Service award looks to recognize an athletic trainer within our state who exemplifies the morals and ideals set forth by the WSATA along with their leadership and involvement in organizations related to athletic training and those outside our profession.
2011 – Craig Bennett
This year’s recipient been a member the WSATA since 2005, and has been the Chair of the Fundraising Committee since 2009. He organized the annual State Symposium last July, which was an incredible success in reintroducing the meeting. The educational event brought approximately 100 ATCs from Washington State and Oregon. Due to his incredible organization skills, he was been asked to be the local chair fort the 2012 Northwest Athletic Trainers’ Association Annual Meeting next year in Bellevue. He spends his “free time” working as the Safety Director and Scheduling Coordinator of the Puyallup Cal Ripken baseball league.
His nominating ATC and colleagues were quoted as saying he is “constantly working to improve the way things are in athletic training at UPS – always looking for ways to make us better as athletic training, improve our effectiveness and give the best possible e care to our student athletes.”
This year’s recipient of 2011 Washington State Athletic Trainer’s Association Excellence in Service Award is Craig Bennett.
2010 – Dana Gunter
This year’s recipient been a member of the Governmental Affairs Committee for WSATA since December 2007, and has been the Chair of that Committee since March of 2008. She has been the president of NWCVPR – NW Cardiovascular Pulmonary Rehabilitation Association.
Her involvement in organizations outside of athletic training are to be commended, she is involved in Lake Youngs Elementary PTA and is a Volunteer Instructor for American Red Cross of King County.
Her nominating ATC was quoted as saying; she has served the state association generously, asking nothing in return for her dedication and long hours. She has organized and directed the GAC with efficiency, commitment, and enthusiasm. Her efforts and leadership have led to her nomination for the District GAC Chair position, which the NATA and District accepted and offered without concern.
It is with great admiration that I present to Dana Gunther the 2010 Washington State Athletic Trainer’s Association Excellence in Service Award.
2008 - Jill Allen
I have been an active member of the WSATA acting as the secretary/treasurer since March of 2007. Since this time I have gotten to know Jill both as a friend and as a colleague. In January of 2007 I got to know Jill because she was the vice president of the WSATA and our association was making a big push toward licensure. Jill and I were in charge of contacting members of the association to get involved and contact their legislators. Jill did a lot of behind the scenes work in contacting by telephone and email individual members of our association to get involved. Her hard work paid off and many members of the WSATA who weren’t currently involved in legislative efforts came on board to help out because Jill just kept on pushing. She is fiery and energetic and gave 110% to helping our association in a time when motivation was needed. Since 2002 Jill has worked on our legislative efforts. She attended all legislative sessions pertaining to our bill (7-8 of them) and even testified on our behalf in a legislative committee in front of key representatives. Amongst all this she even met with her legislators in person and talked with them about the importance of licensure; one of those legislators became a co-sponsor on our bill.
When Mike Coco stepped down as President, Jill was right there to keep things running smoothly. During her brief tenure as interim president Jill worked closely with the DOH on the rules writing of our licensure bill.
Another thing I applaud Jill for is her tenacity, she doesn’t back down. When our lobbyist was negotiating his new contract with our association she came up with a plan and stuck to it. Our association was able to keep an excellent lobbyist at a reasonable fee much to her credit. Jill also helped write a grant that was accepted by the NATA for help in paying for our lobbyist.
This write up is submitted by her friend and Colleague Jolene Fisher
2007 - Russ Richardson
Russell Richardson is a man with passion, integrity and the heart of a servant. Russ has dedicated his life’s work to promoting the profession of athletic training, in the classroom, and halfway around the world in Japan, and in the Washington State legislature. Russ was the Head Athletic Trainer at Whitworth College for many years before transitioning into the academic role of Program Director, which he has held for the last few years. He is deeply committed to the education of his students and the idea of broadening their undergraduate experience. The high quality reputation of Whitworth’s athletic training education program is a direct reflection of Russ’ dedication and passion for athletic training.
As the director of the athletic training education program at Whitworth College, Russ would be the first to admit that the promotion of our profession should start at the grassroots level, in the classroom. He strives to provide a positive example of professionalism to his students and encourages his colleagues to do the same. Recently Russ served as a medical coordinator for the 2007 United States Figure Skating Championships in Spokane.
Russ also does a tremendous job of promoting cultural diversity within our profession. Every other year he takes a group of students from Whitworth College to Japan for a multi-week educational tour. He attempts to broaden their experience with different medical philosophies and expose them to a different culture. On the off years, he coordinates the staff and students of Whitworth’s Athletic Training Program as hosts for groups of students from Japan providing similar exposure to our culture and practices of athletic training. As a result, strong relationships have been built and valuable experience gained for both American and Japanese students. Russ has worked tirelessly for many years and deserves recognition for his service to the profession of athletic training.
Russ has played an integral role in the drive toward state regulation of athletic training in Washington. For the past few years Russ has spent numerous hours in travel, meetings, conference calls, negotiations and legislative hearings. He has spent an incredible amount of time and energy behind the scenes and has served as a great resource and champion for the athletic training profession.
Russ’ level of involvement and incredible effort is largely unknown to the general population, and he would have it no other way. Russ serves as the Secretary/Treasurer for District 10 of the NATA and on the Governmental Affairs Committee for the Washington State Athletic Trainers Association. He does not do this for recognition. He serves because he believes in what certified athletic trainers and educators of athletic training students do. In his spare time, Russ serves as a site reviewer for the Joint Review Committee and has often been independently contracted to serve as a consultant for programs seeking accreditation. Many consider Russ the “go-to-guy” for questions related to the education of athletic training students.
Submitted by Nominators Kasee Hildenbrand and Patti Davenport
2006 - Dale Blair
Dale Blair, the 2006 Washington State Athletic Trainer’s Association Excellence in Service Award winner, has spent 22 years as an athletic trainer holding positions such as the WSATA Executive Director and has been involved with eh NATA Secondary School Athletic Training Committee for 8 years both as a representative of the state of Washington and District 10.He has also been involved with the NWATA Scholarship Committee since 1988 giving us 18 years of his service.
His involvement in organizations outside of athletic training are as impressive as those within our profession. He has been an organizer of the Special Olympic Games and is the faculty advisor for the Fellowship for Christian Athlete chapter at Wenatchee High School. He helped co-found the Washington Vocational Sports Medicine Association in 1996 and has been involved since the beginning. With his passion for secondary schools, he has worked as the Medical Staff Director for the WIAA state tournament for the past 22 years.
The nominee has worked to advance the athletic training profession with his involvement in over 30 presentations and 20 research articles. The following excerpt is from his nomination application, “For 22 years, Dale has given himself, his true empathic character, and pioneering spirit to the profession of athletic training with the same compassion, sparkle and excessive energy level as he did when he became a Certified Athletic Trainer.”
WSATA HALL OF FAME
MIKE COCO
Mike Coco was nominated to be included in the Hall of Fame by Russ Richardson. Mike was a past WSATA President in a time when strong leadership was necessary as we looked ahead to becoming licensed as Athletic Trainers in the state of Washington. “Mike led our association with courage, confidence, and passion” during this time. Mike has also served for 4 years on the WSATA Governmental Affairs Committee during his 10 years working within the state of Washington, along with a 4 year term as a member on the NATA Career Center Committee. The nominating athletic trainer states that “Mike Coco was the right person at the right time for the health of our association.”
Mike attended the University of Northern Colorado for his Bachelor’s degree and Eastern Washington University for a Graduate Degree.
Gary Nicholson
For over forty years Gary Nicholson has been dedicated to the profession of Athletic Training. His career started in baseball. He initially worked in the Chicago Cubs minor league system. However he quickly made his way to major league baseball as both an Assistant and Head Athletic Trainer for the Chicago Cubs organization. He then moved on to the Seattle Mariners as the Head Athletic Trainer until he took a full time position at Pacific Lutheran University where he has resided for the past thirty years as the Head Athletic Trainer. He has worked with and inspired many generations of athletes and ATC's.
Gary is known for being a servant warrior. He never hesitates to assist anyone. Throughout his career he has contributed immensely to his local community, students, student-athletes, and collegues. He lends professionalism, integrity and inspiration to everything he is involved with.
While at PLU, Gary has been involved in a myraid of district service. He chaired the Hall of Fame committee for a while and served as the local chair for the District 10 business meeting and clinical symposium. He also was involved with the national certification examine as both an examiner and test proctor for many years.
Gary demonstrates his dedication to athletic training on a daily basis. Athletes appreciate and benefit from Gary's understanding of new trends and techniques in sports medicine and trust his extensive experience increasing their quick and safe return to play.
Dennis Sealey
Our first inductee has had a number of different experiences that he has used to help shape the profession of athletic training. He began his career as an assistant athletic trainer at the University of Washington in 1972. The following year he returned to his home state and the University of Nebraska as an athletic trainer and instructor. He then returned to the University of Washington as the Head Athletic Trainer in 1978 and remained as such for the next 22 years. Since that time he has been a partner at Whitesel Physical Therapy in Kirkland.
Our inductee has also served the state and district in various capacities. He has headed the planning committee for the NATA convention when held in Seattle in 1982. He has also served the NWATA for 6 years as Secretary/Treasurer and for 6 years as District President. He has also served on the NATA Research and Education Foundation Board of Directors. He has previously been acknowledged for his incredible contributions with the Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award in 1996 and the NATA 25-year award in 1997. It gives the committee great pleasure to present Dennis Sealey as our first Inaugural Member of the Washington State Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame.
GARY SMITH
Our second Hall of Fame inductee has served as an athletic trainer for over 40 years. He started his career as a high school athletic trainer in Hawaii and during his tenure there also served as the head athletic trainer for the East-West College All-Star games.
For the next 33 years he served as the head athletic trainer at Central Washington University where he also acted as an Associate Physical Education Professor. Also during that time he participated as an athletic trainer for various international games and at the Olympic Training Center.
Our inductee has also held various leadership roles throughout his tenure. These include President of the NAIA Athletic trainers association, District 10 membership committee chair.
Of no small importance has been his role in educating and mentoring many years of student athletic trainers. Former students and colleagues have said of him “Gary has accomplished a tremendous amount while giving selflessly and his time and expertise. I have not met a more loyal individual” and “Gary meets and exceeds the longevity and success as a member of our profession”
In 1998 Gary was inducted into the Northwest Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame and it is my honor to recognize him as an inaugural member of the Washington State Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame today.
ZEKE SCHULDT
Our third inductee is a man whose wealth of experiences is as far reaching as the stars. He has dedicated his time to bettering the profession of athletic training in numerous ways. Starting in his college days and continuing for the next 30 years he donated his time to state high school championship events and other significant local competitions including the World Fastpitch Championships, Women’s Olympic Marathon Trials and the Goodwill Games.
He has been an author, co-author or presenter for over 20 educational forums in addition to educating over 35 years of student athletic trainers. Our inductee has also been appointed to various developmental and advisory committees for medical groups and community programs over the course of the last twenty-five years. In addition to these accomplishments, he has been recognized for his service to the University of Puget Sound. Before his retirement in 2005, he served as the Head Athletic Trainer and Sports Medicine teaching specialist for 35 years. He has received numerous service awards as well as being inducted into the Hall of Fame at the university.
In 2002 he was inducted into the NWATA Hall of Fame for his many accomplishments and dedication to the profession and it gives me great pleasure to introduce Zeke Schuldt as one of our inaugural members of the Washington State Hall of Fame.
JIM WHITESEL
Our next inductee started his career in athletic training career as a student athletic trainer at the University of Washington. He proceeded to spend 2 years as an assistant at WSU and while working on a Master’s at UW, served in his first head athletic trainer position at Seattle Pacific University. This was followed by a long tenure with the Seattle Seahawks. Even at that level, he was constantly striving to improve himself as an athletic trainer. He valued his time with athletes and feels as though hands-on care is the most important time that can be spent with an athlete.
According to those who know him best, he has been blessed with a curiosity to look at new products and invent ones that are useful in our profession. He helped develop the “EDO” knee brace, MyoRx (an anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory cream) and is also a major contributor with a portable ice unit called Precision Ice.
After his 23 years in the NFL, he decided to pursue the private sector, opening Whitesel Pro Therapy in Kirkland. For his contributions to the profession in these and many other ways, we would like to acknowledge Jim Whitesel as a member of the Washington State Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame.
BOB PETERSON
Athletic training in District 10 would not have had an origin of greatness if people like our next inductee were not a part of its growth.
He was a pioneer with the Great Lakes trainers of old and was an assistant at the University of California Berkley, He also served as the Head Athletic Trainer at the University of Washington in the glory years of Rose Bowls under Jim Owens and retired a winner. He is active the state of Washington and has helped make athletic training the profession that is has grown to be today. He has been inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame.
Known by his athletes and professionals as “Pete the T”, Bob treated every athlete like they were his very own son or daughter and epitomized the love that everyone had for him.
MARK SMAHA
Mark is a nationally know athletic trainer with over 30 years of experience. He has served in various capacities including service as Head Athletic Trainer at the University of Idaho and 21 years as the Director of Athletic Medicine at Washington State University until his retirement in 1999.
He has also made significant contributions to the profession through his involvement with various committees over the course of the last 20+ years, most notably in his role as President of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association.
He has dedicated a large amount of time over the course of the last 6 years as an inspirational speaker. His unique life experiences, wit and charisma send motivating and spiritual messages to audiences both young and old.
For his incredible contributions to the profession he has been honored on numerous occasions, receiving the Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer award and induction into both the Northwest and National Athletic Trainers Hall of Fame and it is our privilege to now recognize Mark Smaha as a member of the Washington State Athletic Trainers Hall of Fame.
Physician Awards
Dr. Michael Bateman : 2011
This year the recipient of the WSATA Physician Award is Dr. Michael Bateman, Team Physician at the University of Puget Sound.
Dr. Bateman was described in his letter of support as being “large in stature and equally large in his compassion, genuine resolve for finding solutions to what ails his patients and his passion for understanding and helping those that want to be active and have the drive to compete.”
He has also volunteered his time as the Medical Director for the Tacoma Marathon and has served on the medical staff for the Ironman Kona for 10 years. Dr. Bateman has been generous with his time in presenting at numerous athletic training meetings and symposium in the past few years.
Dr. Stuart Freed 2010
Dr Freed has been involved as a physician for multiple state, regional and district athletic events for the past 20 plus years. He has been a strong supporter of the athletic trainer, testifying on our behalf for legislative efforts in the state of Washington. He also is one of 3 physicians on the WIAA Medical Aspects of Sports Committee. He has been the team physician at Wenatchee High School for the past 15 years.
Dr. John Staeheli 2010
Dr Staeheli works as the team physician for Pasco High School and has assisted at many other high schools in the Tri Cities area. He along with his partners provides physician coverage at 5 area high schools. He also serves as the team physician for the Tri City Dust Devils and has volunteered with the WIAA state track and field meet. He also spends time twice per year in the Dominican Republic assisting with SIGN – Surgical Impact Generation Network – offering training to physicians in third world countries.
Dr. Raymond Snyder 2009
Dr. Snyder works closely with 6 local Yakima Valley High Schools and their athletic trainers and high school training programs. His nominating athletic trainer describes him as one who “goes above and beyond the call of duty, extending his daily schedule, services and professional knowledge…” Dr. Snyder has worked to bring the Impact concussion software to the Yakima Valley and implement it at one of the local high schools, along with organizing pre-participation physical for 4 local school districts. He also volunteers as one of the lead physicians for each State WIAA Championships in the Yakima Area.
Dr. Snyder’s award will be accepted on his behalf by nominating athletic trainer, Denton Norwood, Interim Head Athletic Trainer at Yakima Valley Community College.