In The News

Our Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) recently received reaccreditation through CAATE (Committee on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education programs). The following general areas of strength were identified by the Site Visit Team:

1. The dynamic leadership provided by the Program Director is evident through all aspects of the ATEP.
2. The strong support of College Administration, Physicians and ACIs to the mission of the ATEP.
3. Dedicated administrative assistant provided by the ATEP clerical secretary.
4. Efficient didactic and clinical staff to student ratio.
5. On campus and off campus clinical sites provide excellent opportunities for student experiential learning.
6. The mentor program fosters peer learning across all levels of the curriculum.
7. Medical professionals’ involvement with didactic and clinical education.
8. The highly visible and generous support of the Sanford NORTH Center.

Team Physicians
Dr. Scott Boyens serves as the Medical Director of our ATEP and to the Athletic Department of the College. As a family practitioner he provides outstanding physician leadership, education and medical care to the student athletes of the College. Dr. Paul Reynen begins his first year as our team orthopedic surgeon. He is well known and respected sports orthopedic surgeon within the Sioux Falls area and we are fortunate to have him as our team orthopedist.

New ATC Staff Member
Laura Kunkel is no stranger to Augustana College. She received her B.A. in Athletic Training and Exercise Science from Augustana College in 2004, and a Master’s Degree from the University of Florida in 2006. Prior to her return to Augustana College she was employed at Heidelberg College in Tiffin, OH, serving as the primary athletic trainer for the football, women’s basketball and men’s and women’s outdoor track and field teams. Laura began her official full time duties this past fall (2008) where she will teach within our ATEP, and clinically she will work with our football, men’s basketball and track and field athletes. We are fortunate to have Laura on our staff.

New Athletic Facilities
The building of the new $10 million Kirkeby-Over Football Stadium is in full swing. This 6500 seat on-campus stadium is on schedule for completion by the start of the 2009 football season. The stadium will include field turf, two-level suites, and a Daktronics video scoreboard which will show live video and instant replay from numerous camera angles throughout the stadium. Also, $2 million has been designated for the construction of a new soccer field and track on the east side of Grange Avenue. These will also be completed for the 2009 athletic season.

Class of 2009
The following Athletic Training Students will comprise the class of 2009.
Elizabeth Baker (Hermosa, SD), Lisa Bengtson (Alta, IA), Cole Fricke (Alpha, MN), Kari Hanson (Mitchell, SD), Stacey Lipetzky (Sioux Falls, SD), Kelly Ottis (Jerseyville, IL) and Luis Perez (San Juan Puerto Rico).

Athletic Training Students
Sara Bortscheller (Remsen, IA), Casey Cuny (Philip, SD), Kelsey Hourscht (Garretson, SD), Kristin Johannsen (Alcester, SD), Drew Markhardt (Sioux Falls, SD), Jamie Potts (Welcome, MN), Elizebeth Wegleitner (Britton, SD).

For more information about athletic training, please contact Brian Gerry, Program Director of Athletic Training (brian.gerry@augie.edu) or the NATA web site: www.nata.org.

For questions/comments on this site contact: brian.gerry@augie.edu