Northwestern junior awarded scholarships

Northwestern College junior Karisa Fuerniss has been awarded undergraduate scholarships from three different athletic training organizations.

Fuerniss, a physical education and athletic training double major, has been awarded scholarships from the Iowa Athletic Trainers’ Society (IATS), the Mid-America Athletic Trainers’ Association (MAATA) and the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Research and Education Foundation (NATA REF).

Scholarships awarded by IATS are based on athletic training accomplishments, academic achievement and community involvement. Students applying for the scholarship must be members of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and the Iowa Athletic Trainers’ Society.

The MAATA scholarship is awarded to a student member of the organization to perpetuate the standards, ideas and professionalism of athletic training. Applicants must meet a variety of standards to be considered for the award, including being endorsed by a certified athletic trainer, having membership with the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, attending a District Five educational institution, and having future plans to pursue a profession in the athletic training field.

The NATA Foundation awards five levels of scholarships, with only one available for undergraduate students. To secure a scholarship, applicants must be members of NATA and perform with distinction within their academic institution, athletic training duties, course work and community service.

Fuerniss of Loveland, Colo., is the first Northwestern student to receive three of the coveted scholarships. “We have only had two students, Heidi TeBrink ’07 and Amanda (Schwieger) Keller ’08, win one scholarship each,” says Dr. Jennifer Rogers, assistant professor of kinesiology at Northwestern. “Karisa is well deserving of these scholarships.”

After her anticipated graduation from Northwestern next spring, Fuerniss plans to work as a graduate assistant athletic trainer while completing master’s level course work. “I think a graduate assistant position will provide a good balance of establishing myself as a clinician while still continuing my education,” says Fuerniss.

Her long-term plans include becoming an instructor within a small college setting. “I prefer small colleges similar to Northwestern because they allow the athletic trainer more time to build authentic relationships with each patient,” says Fuerniss. “I would also love to passionately share what I have learned with students and excite them about their future careers in athletic training.”