UNI Student Athletic Trainers Organization

Welcome

Welcome to the UNISATO web page! The purpose of UNISATO is to introduce the field of athletic training to new students and to keep current students up to date on current sports medicine topics. This is accomplished through meetings, social activities, fundraising, and attendance at regional and national conferences.

Recent News

On Saturday, October 17th, 2009, UNISATO built and entered another successful homecoming "virtual float". Aubrey Yanda and Becky Gessell, juniors in the athletic trainiing program, organized our efforts this year and Dr. Jody Brucker helped the students make and hand out balloon animals in the shape of panthers and over three-hundred bags of cotton candy.

Mission Statement

It is the mission of UNISATO to promote awareness, knowledge, and communication within the local, state, and national levels of athletic training. In addition, UNISATO provides a forum and voice in matters pertaining to the education of athletic training students at the University of Northern Iowa.

Current Officers

Co-President	Kelli Goerdt	goerdtk@uni.edu
Co-President	Natalia Lawson	nlawson@uni.edu
Secretary	Ashley Cory	acory@uni.edu
Treasurer	Alicia Liebe	aliebe@uni.edu
Faculty Advisor	Dr. Todd Evans	todd.evans@uni.edu

Organization Structure

The organizational structure, committee definitions, and rules of procedure of UNISATO are outlined in the constitution. The most recent revision of the UNISATO constitution was ratified during the Spring semester of 2008.

Activities

UNISATO seeks to promote awareness of the profession of athletic training by participating in community and university events. These include peer mentoring, a yearly AT banquet, parades, fund raising, volunteer activities, professional meetings, and other community events. Listed below are specific events and descriptions.

Peer Mentoring

Our athletic training students volunteer as peer mentors for new students who are interested in athletic training and plan on applying to the UNI Athletic Training Education Program. New students who declare athletic training as a major are assigned an athletic training student peer mentor. The mentors help coordinate their observation hours and answer questions about the program from a student's point of view. Any new student interested in the peer mentor program should contact one of our student co-presidents, Natalia Lawson or Kelli Goerdt.

Yearly Graduation Ceremonyt

At the end of each spring semester an annual athletic training graduation ceremony is held by the students, faculty, and staff as a farewell to the graduating class and to honor those who win awards at the program, university, and national levels. The event is always well attended by our graduating seniors and thier families and friends.

A breakfast banquet is held each fall semester to honor and thank the parents of all athletic training students at the University of Northern Iowa. The event is always well attended by family, students, friends, faculty, and includes presentations by both the Dean of the College of Education and the Director of the School of Health, Physical Education & Leisure Services. Parents Day includes the morning banquet and university activities. Each year attendance has grown and in 2009, we had over 250 attendees.

UNISATO is full of Panther pride, and each year they demonstrate their pride by participating in the Homecoming parade. The parade involves the UNISATO members creating a float or a banner for the parade that promotes the University, UNISATO, and athletic training at UNI. Below are pictures from previous hoemcoming entries.

[2007: Slide Show, Picture 1, Picture 2]

[click 2006]

[click 2005] [click 2005] [click 2005] [click 2005]
[click 2004] [click 2004] [click 2004] [click 2001]

[click2001] [click for a pic] [click for a pic] [click for a pic]

The Iowa Special Olympics are never in short supply of first-aid provides when they hold events on the UNI campus or local communities. UNISATO members are always willing to volunteer when called upon. Some of the activities include soccer, bowling, the spring track and field games. .

Members of UNISATO have also provided first responder care for youth soccer players through the Cedar Valley Youth Soccer Association (CVYSA). The CVYSA is one of the largest soccer organizations in the country and has nearly 30 communities that participate. UNISATO member participation in CVYSA further promotes community awareness of the athletic training profession through their participation. During their invovlement, students are under the supervision of a certified atheltic trainer, employed as a graudate assistant through the UNI Graduate Athletic Training Program.

Professional Meetings

UNISATO members are active members of regional and national organizations such as the MAATA and the NATA. Members have not only attended regional and national meetings, but have represented UNI well through their professionalism and by presenting student research projects through poster and oral presentations. By attending meetings, UNISATO members attend educational presentations and make professional contacts with potential future employers.

Fund Raising Activities

UNISATO raises money for activities through multiple fund raising activities. Fund raising activities provide the resources to help students pay for memberships and portions of the costs associated with traveling to meetings.

Annual Alumni Party

Each year UNISATO funds the Annual Alumni Party at the NATA Annual Symposium. This provides alumni, faculty, and friends an opportunity to renew old friendships and make new contacts. It is a great opportunity for students to meet potential future employers and colleagues.

UNI Student Athletic Trainers Organization (UNISATO)