Velasquez Receives Athletic Trainer Award

Dr. Ben Velasquez, Associate Professor and Chair of Athletic Training and Exercise Physiology at Midwestern State University, was named a recipient of this year's National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award.

Velasquez is a licensed athletic trainer in Texas and Mississippi. He has been a Board of Certification for Athletic Trainers (BOC) certified athletic trainer since 1980. He is active in the Southwest Athletic Trainers Association, serving on the Competency Workshop Committee.

Velasquez has been at MSU since fall 2010. In addition to department chair duties, he serves as program director of the MSU Athletic Training education program. Velasquez was a faculty member at the University of Southern Mississippi for 15 years.

The Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer award recognizes NATA members who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to leadership, volunteer service, advocacy, and distinguished professional activities as an athletic trainer. The award exclusively recognizes NATA members who have been involved in service and leadership activities at the national and district level. Awards will be presented during the NATA Clinical Symposia and AT Expo in June in Indianapolis.

The NATA was founded in 1950 and has more than 35,000 members worldwide.