The National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) has recently announced several awards and honors to be given to student and professional staff members of Northwest Missouri State University’s Athletic Training Department.
Head athletic trainer Dave “DC” Colt will be inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame during the organization’s 59th annual meeting Thursday, June 19, in St. Louis. One day prior, assistant athletic trainer Kelly Quinlin will be presented with the NATA’s Division II Above and Beyond Award. Thirdly, an NATA Research and Education Foundation National Scholarship has been awarded to Northwest graduate assistant Jessica O’Neel.
O'Neel is one of 19 master level scholarship recipients. The criteria for the scholarship include the candidate’s grade point average, involvement in outside activities and examples of leadership.
A 2007 graduate of the University of Nebraska-Omaha, O’Neel’s assisted the Bearcats’ football and softball programs this past academic year. She’s been assigned to soccer and track and field during the 2008-09 academic season.
The Above and Beyond Award is given to a BOC Certified individual who displays exceptional performance in athletic training. Quinlin is being honored primarily for her rehabilitation of Northwest junior football player Abe Qaoud, who suffered severe burns across much of his body from an apartment fire in January of 2007.
Quinlin and her husband, Joe, took Qaoud into their home so Qaoud could receive 24-hour treatment on his injury. As a result, Qaoud caught three passes for 32 yards in the Bearcats’ season opener in September, less than 10 months following the injury. Qaoud played in 14 games for the Bearcats last season.
Colt will become the third Northwest staff member to be inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame, joining Sandy Miller (2002) and Pete Carlon (2005).
During his 27-year career at Northwest, Colt has been a member of the NATA board of directors and served on and chaired many NATA committees. He’s also been a speaker for the American Cancer Society, a clown unit president for the Shriners and a worship team chair for his church.