NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Jennifer Anderson (andersonj@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

6/19/2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES- The NSU Department of Health and Human Performance and Christus Louisiana Sports Medicine at Cabrini (LSMC) of Christus Health Central has formed a partnership to provide certified athletic trainers in central Louisiana high schools.

LSMC has agreed to provide funding through a grant of up to $432,000. The grant will fund up to 12 graduate assistantships for students working toward a master of education degree in health and physical education at NSU. Out-of-state tuition waivers and a financial stipend of $12,000 per year will also be provided to the student.

Graduate assistants will travel to their assigned high school every weekday as well as with the athletic teams of that school to events and provide health care services. Each student will be assigned one school in Rapides Parish.

"It is very exciting to be able to provide this type of service for Louisiana high schools," said Vicki Gentry, head of NSU's Department of Health and Human Performance. "We are very confident that people who are recruited will be highly competent and good role models for the type of students we like to produce at NSU."

Students eligible to receive the assistantship must have a grade point average of 3.0, be certified by the National Athletic Trainer's Associate Board of Certification or the Louisiana Board of Medical Examiners and have First Aid/CPR certification.

"This is an expanse of coverage of children's health," said Dr. Chris Rich, orthopaedic surgeon and medical director of Christus LSMC at Christus St. Cabrini Hospital. "The biggest thing we are going for is the ability to cover high schools. The sports medicine program is looking to improve children's and high school students' health."

"This is going to benefit the community," said Scott Cochran, coordinator of sports medicine for Christus LSMC. "We are constantly looking for opportunities to benefit the community. This is a continued partnership. We have been working with NSU for a lot of years."

This opportunity provides graduate assistants to become more competitive in the work force through hands-on experience as well as a continuance of their eduction.

"Employment opportunities are wide open for athletic trainers," Rich said. "A lot of jobs are available in industry as well as education and sports medicine."

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