LSU Kinesiology Faculty, Tiger Football Trainer Earn Awards

4/08/2011 04:06 PM

BATON ROUGE – LSU College of Education Department of Kinesiology Associate Professor Ray Castle, Instructor Melissa Thompson and LSU Football Director of Athletic Training Jack Marucci have been selected for awards by the Southeast Athletic Trainers’ Association, or SEATA.  SEATA is District IX of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association. The awards were presented Saturday, March 12, at the Southeast Athletic Trainers’ Association Awards Luncheon in Atlanta.  

Castle received the Chuck Kimmel Award of Merit. This award is given to a member of SEATA who has worked for the district on a national level. A highly distinguished award, it is given to someone who has brought honor and recognition to the district.

Thompson received the Backbone Award.  This award, named for the way the “backbone” makes the day-to-day functioning of the weight room a smooth process, recognizes an athletic trainer who has provided a significant contribution to athletic training program operations. In addition, Thompson will receive a cash prize for her efforts.

Marucci and the LSU athletic training staff received the College/University Athletic Trainer Award. This award is presented to an athletic trainer who serves in many roles in addition to athletic training in his institution, community and SEATA. Marucci and members of the LSU athletic training staff also serve as clinical instructors in the College of Education’s Department of Kinesiology.

SEATA is a not-for-profit organization organized in 1950. Initially comprised of members from Southeastern Conference schools, this district now is represented by members from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. For more information about SEATA, visit www.seata.org.

For information on the College of Education’s athletic training concentration in the Department of Kinesiology, go to http://educ-coe.lsu.edu/coe/Kinesiology/training.html.

Billy  Gomila 

LSU Media Relations

225-578-3867

bgomila@lsu.edu