Over the weekend, several faculty members from the Sports Medicine and Athletic Training Department (SMAT) at Missouri State University traveled with over 25 undergraduate athletic training students to the 2015 Missouri Athletic Trainers’ Association Educator’s and Student Leadership Conference. This was the third annual Educator’s and Student Leadership Conference and this year was held on the campus of Central Methodist University in Fayette, Missouri. The conference began with combined sessions that included speakers for crisis response, emergency action plans, and application of the long spineboard latest literature reviews. After a lunch, the students and educators/certified athletic trainers separated and attended sessions relevant to their areas of interest. Dr. Allan Liggett and Kristin Tivener of the SMAT department presented at an afternoon student session on conflict management and effective communication.
The afternoon ended with the state quiz bowl competition. Missouri State University was represented by Melanie Burkholder, Adam Sparks, Lyndsey Knapp, and Brittany Kiefer. The team did a great job representing the MSU athletic training program and was cheered on by other students and faculty.
The conference day ended with a memorable trip home that included one van losing air in a tire and then again in the spare tire. All faculty and students stopped to help which turned into a comical situation and illustrated good team work.