College of Education and Human Development - George Mason University

Faculty, Students, and Alumni Represent Mason at the VATA Annual Meeting

January 13, 2014

Close to 50 faculty, students, and alumni from George Mason University participated in the Virginia Athletic Trainers' Association annual meeting this past weekend.

Participants at the 2014 VATA Annual Meeting in Richmond included 15 current students, more than 20 faculty members and adjunct instructors, and more then ten alumni from Mason's Athletic Training Education program.

 

Award-winner Candace Parham and Dr. Amanda Caswell (center) with students from Mason's Athletic Training Education program.

 

Jatin Ambegaonkar, associate professor and academic program coordinator of the Exercise, Fitness, and Health Promotion graduate program, received the Researcher of the Year Award; Candace Parham, an instructor in the Athletic Training Education program, received the Educator of the Year Award; and Jessie Shanks,a preceptor for the program, received the Secondary School Athletic Trainer of the Year Award. Amanda Caswell, assistant professor and academic program coordinator for the Athletic Training Education program, transitioned from president to past president of the Virginia association.

 

Candace Parham, seen here with her father, received the Educator of the Year Award from the association. Earlier this year, Ms. Parham was also the recipient of the Margaret C. Howell Award from George Mason University.

 

In addition, the Quiz Bowl team from Mason competed against four other athletic training programs in the state and placed second, its best finish to date. The competition is a Jeopardy-style quiz made up of six categories of questions derived from the Board of Certification’s study guide and other sources. The twist is that the teams begin the competition with points totalled from each individual team member’s score on a written pre-test. The winning team goes on to represent Virginia at the Mid Atlantic Athletic Trainers' Association conference.

 

Dr. Amanda Caswell with students from the GMU ATEP Quiz Bowl Team: Cole Powell, Nevada Watson, and Octavia Mathis.

 


About CEHD

George Mason University's College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) includes two schools: the Graduate School of Education, one of the largest teacher preparation and education schools in Virginia, and the School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism. CEHD offers a comprehensive range of degrees, certificates, courses, and licensure programs on campus, online, and on site. The college is distinguished by faculty who encourage new ways of thinking and pioneering research supported by more than $75 million in funding over the past five years.

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