July 8, 2019
Kaleb Birney, UMW head athletic trainer, received the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) Young Professionals' Committee National Distinction Award.
The National Distinction Award is the Young Professionals’ Committee’s (YPC) highest honor to recognize a professional athletic trainer who has made a positive and lasting impact on the athletic training profession at the community, state, district or national level.
Birney received his award during the NATA National Convention in Las Vegas on June 26, 2019.
“I am very honored to receive this award. I wouldn’t be able to do this without the guidance of Russ Richardson, Janelle Handlos, and Chris Heard, or the help of Zach McCarthy and Mary Placzkowski. I’m blessed to be able to work with such a great family. I am even more thankful for my wife Emilee who supports me with everything,” he said.
The nomination is based on multiple factors, including a strong demonstration of leadership abilities, embodiment of goals and ideas while maintaining a high level of honor, respect and integrity.
Birney is a member of the Montana Sports Medicine team with St. James Healthcare in Butte, Mont. for the last three years. He plans to return in fall 2019 for his sixth year at UMW.
