Finding Athletic Training Scholarships: A Comprehensive Guide for Aspiring Professionals

For students aspiring to become certified athletic trainers, securing funding for their education is a crucial step. Scholarships and grants can significantly alleviate the financial burden, allowing students to focus on their studies and professional development. This article provides a detailed guide on where to find athletic training scholarships and what requirements to expect.

Introduction: Investing in the Future of Athletic Training

National Organizations Offering Scholarships

Several national organizations are dedicated to supporting athletic training students through scholarships. These organizations recognize the vital role athletic trainers play in ensuring the health and safety of athletes.

National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA)

The National Athletic Trainers' Association Research & Education Foundation offers scholarships for athletic training students at different levels. These scholarships are highly competitive and are awarded based on academic achievement, leadership, and commitment to the profession.

Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society (PFATS) Foundation

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. 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. Sponsored by PFATS; Named after Kent and Maxine Falb.

National Basketball Athletic Trainers Association (NBATA) Foundation

The National Basketball Athletic Trainers Association Foundation, Inc's (NBATA Foundation) mission is to support the future of athletic training by empowering physically active communities, investing in scholarships and advancing sports healthcare through advocacy, education, and research. The NBATA and it's partners believe in education. Each year, scholarships are awarded to deserving students of the athletic training profession. All junior or senior collegiate athletic trainers with a minimum grade point average of 3.2 who are planning to pursue a career as a certified athletic trainer are eligible to apply for these, and the Vandervoort Memorial Scholarship Foundation scholarships. The Vandervoort Memorial Scholarship Foundation scholarships. Vandervoort himself spent 17 years as the head athletic trainer for the Houston Rockets. second chairman of the NBATA Executive Committee and served from 1977 to 1987. the Year in 1983.

Other Scholarship Opportunities

While specific athletic training scholarships are valuable, students should also explore broader scholarships related to sports, health, or general academics.

Gatorade Sports Science Institute Student Awards

This award supports undergraduate students working on research related to sports science and medicine. It's an excellent opportunity for students interested in the scientific aspects of athletic training.

Tylenol Future Care Scholarship

While not athletic-training specific, this scholarship is aimed at students pursuing health-related fields, making it a viable option for athletic training students.

NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship

The NCAA awards $7,500 to 13 scholarships to ethnic minorities and 13 scholarships to female college graduates who will be entering their initial year of postgraduate studies. The applicant must be seeking admission or have been accepted into a sports administration or program that will help the applicant obtain a career in intercollegiate athletics, such as athletics administrator, coach, athletic trainer or a career that provides a direct service to intercollegiate athletics. Have an overall undergraduate minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.200 (based on a 4.000 scale) or its equivalent, including all undergraduate hours earned at all undergraduate institutions attended. Applicants must have performed with distinction as a student body member at their respective undergraduate institution. Additionally, a scholarship recipient may not use more than one NCAA award for postgraduate studies. Foreign applicants are not eligible to receive an NCAA Ethnic Minority and Women's Enhancement Postgraduate Scholarship.Division II Degree Completion Award Program The NCAA established the Division II Degree Completion Award Program in 2001 to provide deserving student-athletes financial assistance for them to complete their first baccalaureate degree. Candidates will be students who have exhausted their athletics eligibility and have received athletics financial aid. The selection process for the national award emphasizes the academic performance of the student-athlete. To date, nearly $4 million has been given to approximately 1,000 deserving student-athletes.

Read also: Navigating Stanford Scholarships

Athletic Scholarship

Students interested in an athletic scholarship must contact the athletics department directly for more details regarding positions and scholarships available Timothy J.

Regeneron Science Talent Search

Regeneron STS is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science research competition for high school students. Each year, nearly 2,000 students enter the Regeneron STS, submitting original research in critically important scientific fields of study. The one-time grants of $7,500 each are awarded for fall sports, winter sports and spring sports. Each sports season (fall, winter and spring), there are 29 scholarships available for men and 29 scholarships available for women. The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship nomination is to be submitted by the faculty athletics representative (FAR) or by a FAR designee. It is the responsibility of the FAR or FAR designee to ensure all sections of the nomination are submitted to the NCAA national office not later than the sport season deadlines. FARs or FAR designees must nominate qualified student-athletes using the Postgraduate Scholarship Online Submission System. In total, there are five sections to be completed. Additionally, FARs must ensure that the nominee’s transcripts are sent to the NCAA national office. Professor recommendation. The amount of the award varies and an annual application is required. Please contact the Athletic department for more information.

Barry Wallace Youth Premier Soccer Player Assistance Scholarship

The primary purpose of the Barry Wallace Memorial Foundation is to provide financial support to the Greater Kansas City soccer community by assisting youth premier soccer players who have suffered hardship or adversity and who demonstrate the qualities of life that Barry Wallace possessed. Barry Wallace played professional soccer including his last team, our very own Kansas City Comets. After his playing days, Barry began coaching youth soccer. He was diagnosed with cancer in August which ultimately took his life just two short months later. Barry spent his life around the game of soccer. His desire was to teach youth about the game he loved and to pass along his knowledge to them so that their appreciation and passion for soccer would grow.

Eligibility:

The youth soccer players eligible for assistance shall:

play premier soccer in the Greater Kansas City area;
be between the ages of 8-18;
demonstrate financial need due to hardship or adversity suffered by the player or the player’s immediate family such that the player would not be able to continue playing premier soccer without assistance from the Barry Wallace Memorial Foundation; and
demonstrate the qualities of life that Barry Wallace possessed such as living each day to its fullest with high moral standards, humility, by being genuine and compassionate and sharing with others philanthropically.

Soccer players shall submit an application on a form provided by the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation

Dr. Alvin & Monica Saake Foundation Fund

This scholarship is named for Dr. Alvin Saake, a former coach of the University of Hawai'i basketball team in the 1950's and 60's who passed away in 2003. His commitment to higher education lives on in this scholarship. Maintain a minimum 2.7 GPA.

Leveraging Online Scholarship Databases

Online scholarship databases are invaluable resources for finding a wide range of funding opportunities. These platforms allow students to filter scholarships by major, field of study, and other criteria.

Appily, Chegg Scholarships, and Fastweb

Consider platforms such as Appily, Chegg Scholarships, or Fastweb where you can filter by major or field of study. These databases provide access to numerous scholarships, making it easier to find opportunities that match your qualifications and interests.

The Importance of Mentorship and Recommendations

Mentorship plays a crucial role in the development of aspiring athletic trainers. Mentors can provide guidance, support, and valuable insights into the profession. Nominations from mentors can significantly enhance scholarship applications.

Nomination of Rece Poulin by Rob Livingstone

As a passionate, veteran strength and conditioning professional I am honored to mentor and nominate Rece Poulin for the Lance Vermeil Scholarship. Rece's short journey in the field has been fueled by a relentless commitment to athlete development, continuous education, and a deep respect for the foundational principles of strength and conditioning. Receiving this scholarship would allow him to further enhance his knowledge, contribute meaningfully to the profession, and honor the legacy of Coach Vermeil’s dedication to excellence.

Rece's experience includes working with athletes across various sports, focusing on performance optimization, injury prevention, and long-term development. He strives to create evidence-based training programs tailored to individual needs while fostering a culture of discipline, resilience, and teamwork. Understanding that strength and conditioning is both a science and an art, he continuously seeks mentorship, attends professional clinics, studies the latest research and most importantly, asks questions to refine his coaching philosophy.

Beyond technical expertise, Rece takes significant pride in his ability to build strong relationships with athletes and colleagues. Effective coaching extends beyond sets and reps-it requires leadership, communication, and the ability to inspire those we train. He is committed to upholding the highest standards of professionalism, ensuring that every athlete entrusted to his care not only improves physically but also gains confidence and life skills through structured training.

Receiving the Lance Vermeil Scholarship would provide Rece with invaluable opportunities for professional growth, networking, and education. It would enable him to learn from some of the best minds in the field while continuing to push the boundaries of what he can offer as a coach. As his mentor, I know he is eager to carry forward the values of integrity, hard work, and innovation that this scholarship represents.

Nomination of Ellen Gooch by Courtney Taybron

Ellen is, without question, one of the most impressive young coaches I’ve had the privilege to work alongside. She is a rockstar - not just because of her coaching ability, but because of the kind of person she is. Her work ethic, humility, and presence have elevated everyone around her, and she is more than deserving of the Lance Vermeil Scholarship. She embodies everything this award represents: grit, integrity, service, and leadership.

Ellen began her time here as a graduate assistant, stepping immediately into a demanding role. While balancing graduate school, she independently led our women’s rowing and cross country programs and played a major role in supporting several of our largest roster teams - including both men’s and women’s lacrosse and soccer. Her ability to manage this workload with poise and professionalism speaks volumes about her discipline, organization, and dedication to the field.

She quickly became someone the entire staff and student-athletes could rely on. Ellen consistently shows up, does the little things right, and puts others first. She doesn’t leave until everything is set - from prepping for the next day to ensuring the staff and athletes have what they need. Her commitment behind the scenes is unmatched.

What truly sets Ellen apart is the impact she’s made outside the weight room. As a double major in exercise science and nutrition, she has been a beacon of light for our athletes - particularly our women - when it comes to fueling, education, and empowerment. She led a complete renovation of our Training Table standards in collaboration with campus dining, creating meaningful, lasting improvements. Ellen has held 1-on-1 meetings, led team talks, and presented to hundreds of athletes on how to properly fuel for performance and recovery. She’s also met with multiple coaching staffs to educate them on how to elevate their team’s nutrition support. She’s raised the standard for how we care for our athletes in ways that will last far beyond her time here.

Ellen is present in every sense of the word - fully engaged, invested, and intentional. Her leadership, consistency, and authenticity quickly made her one of the most trusted and respected members of our department. She lives our core values and leads with quiet strength and genuine service.

When a sudden staffing change left us with a critical decision, Ellen was the obvious choice to be promoted to full-time. Rather than go through an exhaustive national search, it was clear that elevating Ellen would be the best move for our department. The decision was unanimous across our executive leadership team and key sport coaches. They recognized the immense value Ellen brought - not just for her skills, but for her leadership, work ethic, and unwavering commitment to our athletes. She stepped into the full-time role seamlessly, and since then, her contributions have only continued to elevate the department.

Ellen is not only a phenomenal coach - she is a force for good, a servant leader, and a trailblazer for the next generation of women in strength and conditioning.

Tips for a Standout Scholarship Application

Applying for scholarships can be a process, so start early, make deadlines your priority, and proofread your applications to stand out as a top candidate. Make sure you meet the eligibility requirements before applying to each scholarship and remember, every bit helps, so even smaller scholarships can add up.

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