Children of College Athletic Trainers are Recognized

On June 15, 2004 the College Athletic Trainers’ Society (CATS) announced the first recipients to be awarded the CATS Family Scholarship at its Annual Symposium in Baltimore, Maryland. Four scholarships were created, each in the amount of $2000.00 for one academic year. Sponsors endowing these scholarships were BuzzeoPDMA, Inc., Pro Orthopedics and Johnson & Johnson. To qualify, applicants had to be a son or daughter of a CATS member and enrolled full-time at a college or university for the year 2004-2005. Academic achievements, awards, activities, volunteer work, letters of recommendation and an essay were reviewed. This scholarship provides well-deserved recognition for students who have shown success and deserve the opportunity to further their education.

The College Athletic Trainers’ Society is an organization comprised of college and university athletic trainers. CATS was founded to help its members provide high quality care for student-athletes, foster a close working relationship with organizations whose interests are to promote intercollegiate athletics and to address the needs and concerns of head and assistant athletic trainers at colleges and universities. As our members struggle with low salaries, rising tuition and loss of remitted tuition waivers, our organization has created this opportunity to reward deserving recipients. This scholarship provides CATS and its corporate sponsors an opportunity to show the athletic trainer that there is more to our relationship than the traditional role of consumer and supplier. “It means a lot to me that our profession and the people that we do business with have decided to invest in our family’s education.” says Michael Smith, father of Christopher Smith a 2004 scholarship recipient. The CATS Family Scholarship exemplifies the relationship and cooperative efforts between CATS and its corporate sponsors.

The 2004 scholarship recipients have shown great success academically. They possess leadership qualities and have become actively involved in various activities. They understand and continue to assist their parents with the financial responsibilities of college education. The future is bright for them. It is CATS’ hope that each of these individuals continue to work hard in their studies, achieve their goals with success and make their parents proud.

The 2004-2005 CATS Family Scholarship Recipients
Otho Davis CATS Family Scholarship (BuzzeoPDMA, Inc.)
Evelyn Brown
Evelyn Brown is the daughter of Alex Brown, Men’s Basketball Athletic Trainer at Oklahoma University. A recent high school graduate, Evelyn will be attending Oklahoma University this fall. She made the honor roll for eight semesters at Norman High School, was in the National Honor Society and Senior Class Representative. Evelyn was captain of her high school varsity swimming and diving team. Evelyn has also been involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, her church youth group, and is a volunteer for Food & Shelter for Friends, Salvation Army, East Main Place, NN Parent Academy, Safety Town and St. Mark’s Church. She was also involved with S.A.D.D., her Spanish and French Clubs and the Junior League of Norman Summer Volunteers.

Moose Detty CATS Family Scholarship (Pro Orthopedics)
Lindsey Larsen
Lindsey Larsen is the daughter of Rick Larsen, Head Athletic Trainer for Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Lindsey was a high school two sport athlete completing in basketball and soccer. She was named captain of her junior varsity basketball team and captain of her varsity soccer team her senior year. She remained on the honor roll all four years of high school. She lettered in soccer at the University of Wisconsin in the fall of 2002. Lindsey will attend University of Missouri in Columbia next fall as a sophomore hoping to complete her degree in Accounting and earn her CPA. She made the dean’s list at Missouri her fall semester in 2003. Lindsey, also volunteers at Good Shepard Preschool.

Johnson & Johnson CATS Family Scholarship
Erin Linfonte
Erin Linfonte is the daughter of Ron Linfonte, Assistant Athletic Director and Head Athletic Trainer for St. John’s University. Erin was an honor student throughout her high school career. She was the captain of both her cheerleading and gymnastics team. Erin was awarded the Scholar Athlete Award by the Long Island Cheerleading Coaches Association. She has volunteered for Toys for Tots, a local nursing home, Coats for Kids, Jones Beach Breast Cancer Walk among others. Erin had plans to earn her degree at Towson University with a cheerleading scholarship until she suffered a knee injury that subsequently required surgery and loss of financial support. As a result, she then transferred to SUNY Stony Brook where Erin has chosen Psychology as her major. She plans on becoming a guidance counselor or teacher at a high school and would like to coach.

BuzzeoPDMA CATS Family Scholarship
Christopher Smith
Christopher Smith is the son of Michael Smith, Assistant Athletic Trainer at the University of West Alabama. He graduated in the top ten percent of his high school class. He was team captain of his high school golf and tennis teams, a member of the National Junior Honor Society, Beta Club, Future Business Leader’s of America and the National Junior Classical League in high school. He is currently a double major in Marketing and Management at Florida State University. Chris continues to be academically successful making the Dean’s List in multiple semesters. He is a member and assists in fundraiser events for the FSU chapter of the American Marketing Association. He plans to further his education through the FSU MBA program in the summer of 2005. Chris started his own internet retail business while attending college. His professors described Chris as a person who demonstrates impressive work-ethic, excellent written and communication skills and possesses excellent potential to have a positive impact in a business organization in the future.