Vincent Stilger, WVU athletic training program director, HSD, ATC has earned the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) 2017 Service Award. The Athletic Trainer Service Award (ATSA) recognizes NATA members for contributions as a volunteer at the local and state levels.
Stilger has served as the WVU undergraduate athletic training program director and associate professor at CPASS since 1994. He helps during the fall season with the WVU football team as an athletic trainer. Stilger is a Board of Certification Athletic Trainer and a member of NATA, WVATA. Stilger earned his Master of Science and bachelor’s degrees from Indiana State University
Stilger has served as the head athletic trainer for Special Olympics Indiana Summer Games since 1988 and as an athletic trainer for TEAM USA Great Lakes region during the Special Olympics World Games in Dublin, Ireland in June 2003. In July 2010, he served as an athletic trainer for team Indiana at the National Special Olympic Games in Lincoln, NE.
Other recognition includes the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Trainers’ Association Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award (2015), Special Olympics Indiana Dennis Schmidt Impact award (2015) and WVATA president (2014-2016).
ATSA recipients have been involved in professional associations, community organizations, grassroots public relations efforts and service as a volunteer athletic trainer. Award recipients must have earned 20 years as Board of Certification (BOC) along with 20 years membership in NATA.
Athletic trainers are highly qualified, multi-skilled health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to provide preventative services, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. Athletic trainers work under the direction of a physician as prescribed by state licensure statutes.
The athletic training academic curriculum and clinical training follow the medical model. Athletic trainers must graduate from an accredited baccalaureate or master’s program and 70 percent of athletic trainers have a master’s degree.