PBC Student Trainers Receive GATA Awards

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – Two Peach Belt Conference student trainers were recognized by the Georgia Athletic Trainers Association (GATA) at the association’s annual meeting on Jan. 16. Georgia College & State University’s Tyler Snow and Clayton State’s Jeff Gilbert both received the Lori Mobley Groover Leadership Award which recognizes students in the high school, undergraduate and graduate settings who are pursuing a career in athletic training.

Gilbert has been with the Clayton State Sports Medicine program since the 2006-07 year. He is completing his masters in Health Care Administration after receiving his undergraduate degree from Valdosta State University.

Snow is in his senior year at GCSU as an athletic training major. The Milledgeville native is in his second year of the GCSU Sports Medicine program and is currently evaluating graduate programs to continue his career.

The Lori Mobley Groover Awards are named for a past president of GATA who passed away in 2009. The awards are given to students who exhibit passion and enthusiastic leadership. An honor and awards committee selects the recipients based on academic record, athletic training experience and an essay. Each student application must also include a recommendation from a certified athletic trainer who supervises the student. Paul Higgs is the ATC at Georgia College while John Zubal serves at Clayton State.

The Georgia Athletic Trainers’ Association is an organization committed to education of its members and enhancement of the profession of athletic training, leading to better healthcare for the population which it serves. The GATA is proudly composed of licensed athletic trainers in many different settings. Over 700 licensed athletic trainers from professional, collegiate, and high school teams to industries, physician offices, and rehabilitation clinics all work together to promote and practice the profession of athletic training within the state of Georgia.

Award winners and GATA representatives at the 2010 presentation (L to R): Sandy Mobley; GATA Honors & Awards Chair Diane King, Undergraduate Student Award Winner Tyler Snow, High School Student Award Winner Jayna Hunter, Graduate Student Award Winner Jeff Gilbert, Bobby Mobley, GATA President Michael Clanton