On Jan. 10, the university welcomed more than 100 athletic training students and professionals to campus for the East Texas Athletic Trainers Association Annual Symposium and Student Workshop, highlighting the university's growing role as a regional hub for athletic training and health sciences education.

Held at the Sam Rayburn Student Center, the event drew 103 attendees, including 61 high school students, 12 college students and 30 licensed athletic trainers from 13 Texas high schools. The symposium was hosted in partnership with the East Texas Athletic Trainers' Association, which supports education, professional development and advocacy for athletic trainers across the region.

Student sessions focused on real-world exposure to the field of athletic training, including presentations on rodeo sports medicine, collegiate athletic training pathways, and emergency action planning. Hands-on labs allowed participants to practice skills such as spine boarding, splinting and athletic taping. The instruction reinforced the applied learning central to athletic training education. ETAMU alumni and faculty members delivered several presentations throughout the day, including one by Dr. Katie Halfacre and Rebecca Bridgefarmer on nutrition in injury prevention and recovery.

Participants also toured East Texas A&M's Department of Health and Human Performance facilities, where students in athletic training and related programs gain experience using industry-standard equipment. A highlight of the day was a technology demonstration by Dr. Michael Oldham in the ROARHP Lab. Oldham highlighted the motion analysis and performance technologies used in injury prevention, rehabilitation and human performance research.

At the symposium, sports training professionals participated in continuing education sessions, including nutrition strategies for injury prevention and recovery, and explored the connections among athletic training, kinesiology and health sciences.

“The event provided valuable hands-on learning experiences for high school students exploring athletic training as a career path,” said Dr. Sarah Mitchell, assistant professor in the Department of Health and Human Services. “It also gave them a firsthand look at our campus facilities and programs. Students had the opportunity to connect with professionals in the field and gain insight into the athletic training profession.”