Awards Overview

ASSOCIATION AWARDS

• Association awards are presented annually.
• Applications/nomination forms must be completed in full and submitted to the National Office before March 1 of each year.
• All award recipients are ratified by the Board of Directors.

 ASSOCIATION AWARD DETAILS

• Hall of Fame Award
• Special Recognition Award
• Merit Award
• Distinguished Athletic Therapy Educator Award
• Member Emeritus
• Writing Awards
• Annual Scholarship
• Larry Ashley Memorial Scholarship Award
• Outstanding SAT Award
• Research Grant
• Evert Van Beek Award
• Volunteer Appreciations

Hall of Fame Award

Hall of Fame Award recipients:

• receive all Association mailings and documents,
• may attend Annual Conferences at a reduced fee,
• are not eligible:
• for major games selection unless they are currently practicing members of the Association.

Eligible members should:

• have been a member of the Association for at least 10 years,
• have served on the Board of Directors of the Association and at least one other committee of the Association.
• have served on one other sports medicine community committee or board in representation of the profession of athletic therapy, and
• have displayed community involvement either in, or outside the profession of athletic therapy.

Qualifications for Hall of Fame Award
The nominee must:

• have been a Certified Member of the Association who was in good standing with the Association while he/she was practicing, or who remains in good standing if he/she is currently practicing;
• have been a Certified Member for at least 10 years;
• have contributed outstanding service to his/her profession, association or community, or made some other outstanding contribution; and
• be nominated by at least three Association members, with accompanying letters of reference.

In addition, the nominee should:

• have served on the Board of Directors of the Association and at least one other committee of the Association.
• have served on one other sports medicine community committee or board in representation of the profession of athletic therapy, and
• have displayed community involvement either in, or outside, the profession of athletic therapy.

Special Recognition Award

Qualifications for Special Recognition Award
The nominee must:

• be an Association member in good standing for at least five years or other outstanding individual or patron who has made a significant contribution to the Association;
• have contributed outstanding service to the Association via national or international meets, committees or other reasons specified by the nominator; and
• be nominated by at least two Certified Athletic Therapists.

Merit Award

This award recognizes members, who have, through their actions, saved a life, prevented a serious accident or performed an outstanding emergency service.

Qualifications for Merit Award
The nominee must:

• be a Certified Member of the Association in good standing; and
• be nominated by a member including a brief and accurate outline of the nature of the actions meriting the nomination.

Distinguished Athletic Therapy Educator Award

This award is presented to an Association member in recognition of truly distinguished contributions to athletic therapy.

Nominees for this category should be exemplary educators in the athletic therapy realm. Involved not only in "traditional" forums and teaching settings, the candidate should have demonstrated leadership in community, national, international education and/or involved in original research publication, and or innovative teaching delivery or curriculum development.

Qualifications for Distinguished Athletic Therapy Educator Award
The nominee must:

• be a Certified Member of the Association in good standing;
• have a minimum of five years of outstanding service in the area of athletic therapy /sport medicine education and research;
• have known excellence in the field of athletic therapy/sport medicine education including the following areas:
• general teaching responsibilities,
• national, international contributions,
• research and/or publications,
• community based education,
• innovation in delivery or curriculum development, and/or
• a history of outstanding service in provincial or national Canadian professional organizations concerned primarily with the field of athletic therapy/sport medicine; and
• be nominated by at least one Certified Athletic Therapist and two others (e.g., professional colleagues, administrators, students).

Member Emeritus

This award recognizes the prior contributions of a member who may still be contributing to the fields of athletic therapy or sports medicine, but who is no longer actively engaged in the day- to-day work of an athletic therapist as defined in the Association Scope of Practice due to retirement from active employment or a shift in career focus.

Member Emeritus Award recipients:

• pay no annual dues,
• are not required to submit maintenance of certification,
• receive all Association mailings and documents,
• pay 50% of conference registration fee plus applicable taxes, and
• are not eligible:
• to vote at the Annual General Meeting,
• for executive office or committee membership, or
• for major games selection.

Qualifications for Member Emeritus Award
The nominee must:

• be a Certified Member of the Association who actively participated in the Association for fifteen or more years;
• have a recognized and documented contribution to the advancement of the objectives of the Association;
• be nominated by a currently Certified Member; and
• submit a letter which documents contributions to the Association and attests to status as a Certified Member for 15 or more years.

To be selected, the nomination must be

• reviewed by the Member Services Committee, and
• ratified by the Board of Directors.

Writing Award

This award recognizes Certification Candidates and Certified Members who submit articles for publication in the Athletic Therapy Today journal. There are cash prizes for two categories: $250 for category “A” Association Certification Candidates and $500 for category “B” Certified Members.

Qualifications for Writing Award
Applicants:

• must be members of the Association in good standing or members of the public; and
• must submit their paper along with four copies, to the National Office before March 1 of each year. Papers must be on a topic that corresponds with the Association Scope of Practice. Research papers are also encouraged.

Considerations

• Books or book chapters are not accepted.
• Applicants may submit a given paper or article once only for this award. If unsuccessful, the same paper or article is not eligible in subsequent years.

Annual Scholarship

This cash award of $500 is given annually to a Certification Candidate to recognize athletic therapy skills, academic success, and potential leadership and commitment to the profession of athletic therapy.

Qualifications for Annual Scholarship
The nominee must:

• be a Certification Candidate of the Association for at least one year prior to scholarship selection date (March 1);
• be registered as a full-time (September-May) student at a recognized post-secondary institution according to the registration policies of the particular institution in other than a graduating year;
• be enrolled in an "Accredited" curriculum with the focus of the courses pertaining to athletic therapy;
• be participating as a Certification Candidate, in the field and clinic work, throughout the academic year; and
• have one letter of recommendation (e.g., from SAT, coach, physician, administrator, or educator).

The application package is to include:

• a letter of formal application from the candidate and a completed candidate application form;
• proof of post-secondary school registration and a copy of the most recent academic transcripts (if ordered and sent directly to the National Office, a copy of the receipt must accompany the application); and
• a resume of clinical and practical hours and experience.

Considerations
The following considerations apply in choosing the award recipient:

• academic success as indicated by most recent transcripts from accredited program;
• letters of recommendation (practical skills, research, general deportment);
• leadership qualities as an athletic therapist;
• field experience and clinical experience; and
• other related factors.

Larry Ashley Memorial Scholarship Award

The Canadian Athletic Therapists Association in conjunction with the Professional Hockey Athletic Trainers Society (PHATS) awards an academic athletic therapy scholarship in memory of Mr. Larry Ashley. Mr. Ashley served professional hockey and the field of athletic therapy for over 20 years with dedication and excellence. This award recognizes a Certification Candidate with a demonstrated commitment to developing practical and academic athletic therapy skills in the field of professional hockey.

Qualifications for Larry Ashley Memorial Scholarship Award
The nominee must:

• be a Certification Candidate of the Association;
• be enrolled in an academic program;
• be involved in practical field work in the area of organized hockey and be demonstrating a potential for excellence through commitment;
• have two letters of recommendation from coaches, physicians or administrators verifying the candidates work and potential future in hockey and academic success to date;
• have a letter of recommendation from his/her SAT;
• include a cover letter of no more than two pages describing his/her reasons for applying for this scholarship; and
• include a copy of the most recent academic transcripts (if ordered and sent directly to the National Office, a copy of receipt must accompany the application).

Outstanding SAT Award

This award is given to a Supervisory Athletic Therapist (SAT) with demonstrated distinct leadership and commitment in the preparation and supervision of Certification Candidates. The award recognizes the significant contribution of SATs in the growth and development of Certification Candidates.

The award recipient is invited to make a brief presentation at the SAT accreditation seminar at the following Annual Conference or write a report about his/her work as a SAT for publication in the Association newsletter.

Qualifications for Outstanding SAT Award
The nominee must:

• be a Certified Member of the Association in good standing;
• have had at least three Certification Candidates who successfully complete certification under his/her supervision;
• have clearly demonstrated leadership:
• in the successful preparation of his/her own Certification Candidates, and
• in his/her contributions to the successful preparation of other Association Certification; Candidates; and
• be nominated by at least one Certification Candidate and two Certified Members.

Research Grant

A $1500 research grant is presented annually to a Certified Member who wishes to pursue research in a topic area that will have direct benefit to the field of athletic therapy.

Qualifications for Research Grant
The applicant/nominee must:

• be a Certified Member of the Association in good standing;
• include a cover letter outlining the perceived benefit of the research as it relates to the field of athletic therapy;
• include a detailed description (methodology) of the proposed study, and include examples or detailed description of testing protocol, questionnaires, testing apparatus, etc.;
• include ethical approval for the study from an ethics review board; and
• include a detailed cost break down for the proposed research project.

Considerations

• All research must be original.
• Research must be on a topic area that corresponds with the Association Scope of Practice or directly benefits the profession of athletic therapy.
• Consideration for the award is also based on an individual’s publication track record and previous research experience.

The award recipient must agree to present the outcomes/findings of the research project at the upcoming Annual Conference.

Evert Van Beek Award

This award is in memory of Evert van Beek, a 25 year member of the Association, who made significant contributions to the Association, the profession of athletic therapy, and his local community. This award recognizes an Association member who, throughout his/her career, have demonstrated leadership and citizenship qualities coupled with a capability for entrepreneurial endeavours.

Qualifications for Evert Van Beek Award
The nominee must:

• be a Certified Member of the Association in good standing; and
• be nominated by at least three Certified Athletic Therapists who will submit letters of recommendation with the nomination forms on the #Evert Van Beek Memorial Award application (form follows).

Considerations

In addition, the nominee should have the following demonstrated qualities, contributions and competencies:

• leadership roles within the Association or sport medicine community;
• an entrepreneurial endeavour related to the field of athletic therapy deportment;
• citizenship qualities within professional or community settings;
• visionary qualities;
• contributions to the Association or sport medicine community; and
• other related personal and professional attributes.

VOLUNTEER APPRECIATIONS

Conditions

Volunteer appreciation gifts are presented to Certified Members who have served on working committees of the Association and these awards are presented each year at the Annual Conference.

The volunteer appreciation award recognizes and honours individuals who have dedicated their time and energy to the Association as follows:

• a gift, and plaque for all outgoing committee members who satisfy the service qualifications listed below;
• a formal letter of appreciation from the Association for committee members who resign from their mandates prior to full service (and following a minimum of one year); and
• a gift, plaque and gavel for out-going presidents.

Volunteer appreciation recipients must:

• be Certified Members of the Association in good standing;
• have served at least one full term (three years on a working committee or two years on the Board of Directors (Committee eligibility includes: serving on an Association standing committee; serving on the Ethics Committee, serving as the Ombudsperson; and/or other individuals at the discretion of the Board of Directors.)