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PFATS Foundation / NATA Research and Education Foundation Scholarship Series

As part of its commitment to advance the athletic training profession, PFATS Foundation allocates funding, resources, and voluntary efforts toward special programs and services of its members to a variety of NATA programs and services. Since its inception, PFATS Foundation has provided over $500,000 in endowments through the NATA Research and Education Foundation. PFATS Foundation currently awards eleven $3,200 scholarships for athletic training students annually at the NATA’s William E. Newell Student Trainer Awards Luncheon. The first PFATS Scholarships were established in 1983.

All collegiate student athletic trainers who are in their junior year or higher with a grade-point average of at least 3.2/4.0 and who plan on pursuing a career as a certified athletic trainer are eligible to apply for one of these $3,200 scholarships. Application forms may be found at www.natafoundation.org andare due by January 15 of each year.

To learn more about the PFATS Scholarship Endowment Program please click here.

Our Awards Include:

Kent and Maxine Falb Doctoral Scholarship

Scholarship Level: Doctoral Research Grant 

Sponsored by PFATS; Named after Kent and Maxine Falb. Kent served as NATA President, the long-term Head Athletic Trainer for the Detroit Lions and former PFATS Executive Assistant.

Bobby Gunn Scholarship Award

Scholarship Level: Undergraduate or Graduate

Sponsored by PFATS; Named after the historic Athletic Trainer.

2023 Awardee - Donghyeon Kim, University of Connecticut

Dean Kleinschmidt Doctoral Scholarship Award

Scholarship Level: Undergraduate or Graduate

Co-sponsored by PFATS and Gatorade; Named after the Head Athletic Trainer of the New Orleans Saints, Washington Redskins and Detroit Lions.

2023 Awardee - Courtney Grove, Waynesburg University

Edward Block Courage Society Undergraduate Scholarship Award

Scholarship Level: Undergraduate or Graduate

Sponsored by PFATS; Named after the Head Athletic Trainer of the Baltimore Colts who dedicated his life to helping abused and neglected children.

2023 Awardee - Marissa Uecker, Saint Louis University

Jerry Rhea Scholarship Award

Scholarship Level: Undergraduate or Graduate

Sponsored by PFATS; Named after the longtime Head Athletic Trainer of the Atlanta Falcons and Past NATA President

2023 Awardee - Steven Mather, Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions

John Norwig Scholarship Award

Scholarship Level: Undergraduate or Graduate

Sponsored by PFATS; Named after the Head Athletic Trainer of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Past-President of PFATS.

2023 Awardee - Nathan Ritzman, Slippery Rock University

Larry “Stosh” Neumann Undergraduate Scholarship Award

Scholarship Level: Undergraduate or Graduate

Co-sponsored by PFATS and Gatorade; Named in honor of the former Minnesota Vikings Assistant Athletic Trainer who battled brain cancer.

2023 Awardee - Katherine Berglund, A.T. Still University

Steve “The Greek” Antonopulos Undergraduate Scholarship Award

Scholarship Level: Undergraduate or Graduate

Sponsored by PFATS; Named after the long-term Head Athletic Trainer of the Denver Broncos and Past-President of PFATS.

2023 Awardee - Rachel McCoy, University of Alabama

William Tessendorf Scholarship Award

Scholarship Level: Undergraduate or Graduate

Sponsored by PFATS; Named after the long-term Head Athletic Trainer of the Baltimore Ravens.

2023 Awardee - Olivia McCusker, University of South Carolina

Lamar "Bubba" Tyer Scholarship Award

Scholarship Level: Undergraduate or Graduate

Sponsored by PFATS; Named after the long term Head Athletic Trainer for the Washington Redskins

2023 Awardee - Grace Silva, Alvernia University

Pepper Burruss Scholarship Award

Scholarship Level: Undergraduate or Graduate

Sponsored by PFATS; Named after the long-term Head Athletic Trainer for the Green Bay Packers.

2023 Awardee - Amelia Bartels, Michigan State University

Rollin Mallernee Scholarship Award

Scholarship Level: Undergraduate or Graduate

Sponsored by PFATS; Named after the long-term PFATS General Counsel Rollin Mallernee.

2023 Awardee - Taylor Bergquist, University of Mary