Nominations for 2025

Phillip Hossler Loyalty and Commitment Award Criteria

The Phil Hossler Loyalty and Commitment Award recognizes a deserving athletic trainer in New Jersey for their service to the athletic training profession, their setting, and their communities.

Phil Hossler served the ATSNJ over a span of three decades.  He was the first ATSNJ Secretary/Treasurer (1977-1980) and was the only two-time ATSNJ President (1983-1984, 1997-1998).  Phil’s inventive mind not only improved his own work environment but enhanced secondary school athletic training across the state.  He was also the driving force behind the Department of Education certificate for athletic trainers.  Phil was well known for his kind nature and willingness to help those in need. If you were a secondary school AT and needed advice, you would call Mr. High School, Phil Hossler.  Phil received many accolades, including the ATSNJ Distinguished Service Award and was inducted into the ATSNJ, NJSCA, NJSIAA & NATA Halls of Fame.

This award recognizes athletic trainers who have:

• Demonstrated a long-term commitment to their setting
• Provided public awareness, promotion and education about the athleteic trainers role in their local communities
• Helped establish and maintain the athletic trainers’ presence in their setting.
• Promoted athletic training as a career-destination.
• Exhibited a consistent and exemplary level of health care

Eligibility

• ATSNJ member in good standing
• Current NPI number with appropriate taxonomy code 
• Current BOC certification
• At least 75% of current job responsibility must involve primary care of athletes
• Currently employed as a full-time head athletic trainer (or equivalent).
• Employed at the same employer for a minimum of 10 years. 

Criteria

• The athletic trainer has made progressive and substantial improvements to his/her athletic training program.
• The athletic trainer provides extraordinary service to local community.
• Has attended the ATSNJ annual conference and business meeting at least once in the last 5 years

Nomination

• Nomination due by January 15th
• Completed application due by February 1st 

Award Winners

Scholarship Application Criteria

The Jack Weakley District Two Scholarship and the Richard Malacrea College Scholarship have been named for these 2 individuals who were champions of Athletic Training on a national level, and true friends to Athletic Trainers in the State of New Jersey.

The ATSNJ presents 2 scholarships in their name, to honor outstanding students from the ATSNJ membership, who have excelled both academically and stand out as athletic training students. The award is meant to encourage the recipients to continue his/her education toward an athletic training degree.

There can be only a maximum of 2 applications per school for the college scholarships.

The nominator must be the Program Director and a certified/ licensed member of ATSNJ.  The candidate must also be a member of ATSNJ. The candidates must also currently be attending a CAATE approved program located in the State of New Jersey.

Once the nomination is made, forms will electronically be sent to the Athletic Training Supervisor, Program Director and the nominated student.

The ATSNJ Honors and Awards Committee will screen the candidate(s) and announce its selections to the membership prior to the ATSNJ annual meeting.

Criteria

To be eligible for consideration, an applicant shall:

1. Distinguish oneself academically. Records of each student shall be judged on their semester index at the end of their most recent semester.
2. Perform with distinction as a member of a CAATE approved Athletic Training education program located in the State of New Jersey. NOTE: The degree of the student's athletic training achievement shall be weighed at least equally with the degree of the academic performance.
3. Signify an intention to continue academic work toward an Athletic Training degree as a full-time student and have been judged capable of this study by the program director of the CAATE approved Athletic Training education program, and the supervising Athletic Trainer. NOTE: The recipient of an ATSNJ scholarship is expected to remain enrolled in an Athletic Training program except for military service or church obligations.
4. Signify an intention to pursue the profession of athletic training as a career.
5. Conduct oneself in a manner which has brought credit to themselves, their institution and athletic training education program, and the ideals and objectives of American higher education.
6. Nominations for the scholarship application closes January 15th.
7. The completed forms and supporting documents must be submitted to the Honors and Awards Committee by February 1st.
8. Transcripts must be uploaded by the nominee during the application process.

Note:

1. After satisfying the above requirements, consideration shall be given to one's participation in campus activities other than academic and athletic training in which they have had an opportunity to demonstrate qualities of leadership and serve as an example to their fellow students.
2. Assistance from other sources shall not make the candidate ineligible for an ATSNJ award.

Application

Once the nomination form has been completed by the Program Director and  nomination has been approved, links for the application forms will be sent to the appropriate parties.  Please be sure to include the correct name and email address for each person. Winners will be notified the first week of February.

Distinguished Service Award

The ATSNJ Distinguished Service Award (DSA) recognizes ATSNJ members who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to leadership, volunteer service, advocacy and distinguished professional activities as an athletic trainer. The DSA exclusively recognizes ATSNJ members who have been involved in service and leadership activities at the state and district level. 

Criteria

1. Nominator must be an ATSNJ member.
2. The nominee must be an ATSNJ member.
3. If retired or deceased, nominee must have been an ATSNJ member.
4. Nominee must have a minimum of ten years of work experience as a Certified/Licensed Athletic Trainer in the State of New Jersey
5. The majority of the criteria for this award will focus on activities pertaining to Athletic Training activities in the State of New Jersey
6. Nominations are open until January 15th
7. Application is due on February 1st
8. You will receive a confirmation of nomination by e-mail from the Awards Chair within 48 hours. Please contact Dan J. Evans at awards@atsnj.org if you do not receive a confirmation e-mail.

Nomination Process

Nominations shall be submitted by a certified/licensed or retired certified/licensed member of the ATSNJ to the chairperson of the Honors and Awards Committee via the webform below. In the event that the nomination is approved, the nominee will be sent a link to fill out more information needed to complete the process.
 

Award Winners

Purpose

To recognize persons or entities for their positive promotion or enhancement of the Athletic Training profession in New Jersey.

Candidate Criteria

Not more than one award will be presented annually. The award may not be presented if there are no candidates meeting the criteria. Candidates must meet the following requirements to be nominated.

1. Employment, full-time or part-time, as a reporter for a newspaper or magazine of either local or national circulation.
2. Employment, full-time or part-time, as a reporter for an electronic information medium (television, radio, or internet) of local, regional, or national
3. Evidence of quality in published manuscript, television stories/interviews, or the production of video materials concerned with of Athletic Training in New Jersey.

Application Guidelines:

1. Any certified/licensed member of the ATSNJ can make a nomination for this award.
2. The nominator must send a detailed curriculum vita (CV) of the candidate to the ATSNJ Public Relations Chair. The CV must contain the following:
   1. Nominee’s name and current employer.
   2. Evidence of published manuscript, television stories/interviews, or video materials.
   3. Nominee’s background information:
   4. Academic background.
   5. Professional membership.
   6. Media positions held on the state, local, or national levels.
   7. Other appropriate materials.
3. No more than one candidate will be selected in a calendar year.
4. The candidates CV will be judged by members of the ATSNJ Public Relations Committee relative to criteria listed under Section 2.
5. All CV must be completed and submitted to the ATSNJ Public Relations Chair no later than January 15th. The Public Relations Committee will inform the ATSNJ Executive Council as well as the Honors and Awards Chair of the award recipient.
6. The ATSNJ Media Award recipient will be introduced and presented with the award at the ATSNJ Annual Conference.
7. Advertisement of the award will be issued to all forms of public media outlets in New Jersey through letters and electronic mail. The NATA News and ATSNJ Presidents Notebook will also receive this notification.
8. The award need not be given if no candidates are deemed qualified for the award.

Award Winners

Dr. Timothy Hosea Team Physician Award

The Dr. Timothy Hosea Award is given to a deserving team physician who has worked to support and further the profession of Athletic Training. This recipient will have emulated the characteristics of Dr. Hosea and his commitment to our profession.

The following criteria will be utilized in the evaluation process:

1. Years of service as a team physician (ten year minimum)
2. State ATSNJ activities such as speaking, offices held, liaison positions, and committee work
3. Special event coverage as team physician such as all-star games, state games, Olympic games and other athletic events
4. Education, research, and publications in the field of sports medicine and athletic training.
5. Charitable and community involvement.

Nomination Process

Nominations shall be submitted by January 15th by a certified/licensed or retired certified /licensed member of the ATSNJ to the chairperson of the Honors and Awards Committee via the webform below. Once contacted by the Awards Committee, the nominating ATSNJ member shall then submit a letter of recommendation and the physician's CV for review by February 1st.  

Award Winners

Hall of Fame

The ATSNJ Hall of Fame exists to recognize the very best of our profession in the state of New Jersey.  Induction into the Hall of Fame honors athletic trainers who exemplify the mission of the ATSNJ through significant lasting contributions that enhance the quality of health care provided by athletic trainers and advance the profession. They have helped shape the profession in New Jersey through their noteworthy accomplishments and dedication to service, leadership and professionalism.

Criteria

1. Nominator must be an ATSNJ member
2. The nominee must be an ATSNJ member
3. If retired or deceased, the nominee must have been an ATSNJ member
4. Nominee must have a minimum of twenty years of work experience as a Certified / Licensed Athletic Trainer in the State of New Jersey
5. The entire career of the nominee is taken into consideration, with the largest portion of the criteria pertaining to Athletic Training activities in the State of New Jersey
6. Nominee must have already received the ATSNJ Distinguished Service Award
7. Nominations are open until January 15th
8. Application is due on February 1st
9. You will receive a confirmation of nomination by e-mail from the Awards Chair within 48 hours. Please contact Dan J. Evans at awards@atsnj.org if you do not receive a confirmation e-mail

Please note that existing Hall of Fame members are not elligible for this award again.

Hall of Fame Members

Victor (Vito) D. Recine Memorial Scholarship Criteria

 Mr. Victor (Vito) Recine was an athletic trainer for over 40 years in New Jersey, and a leader in the development of our Athletic Training Practice Act. The ATSNJ awards a deserving high school student this scholarship in his name.

The recipient will be selected from high school seniors who live and attend school in New Jersey aspiring to pursue a career in athletic training.  Students must have served their school as a student aide and have applied to a college or university that sponsors a CAATE approved program.

There can be only a maximum of 2 applications per school.

• The nominating/supervising athletic trainer must be a certified/licensed member of ATSNJ.
• A guidance counselor familar with the nominee will receive a link to fill out the guidance form via the email address listed on the nomination form.
• The nominee/student will receive a link to the student form via the email listed on the nomination form.
• The nominating/supervising athletic trainer will also supply a written recommendation that should be sent to awards@atsnj.org.
• Nominations are due by January 15th
• Completed forms/recommendation are due by February 1st.