June E-Blast

SCATA Advocacy

BY ORDER OF THE GOVENOR, on May 26th 2026 our dear friend and Past President Sheila Gordon received the Order of the Palmetto- South Carolina's highest civilian honor. We are thankful for Sheila and all she has done for the profession of athletic training. Help up continue to celebrate Sheila

Governmental Affairs Committee 

As this year’s Annual Symposium approaches, the GAC wants to put out an exciting opportunity for the membership. This year we will be working with local athletic trainers, either in the college setting or the secondary school setting, to host a legislator at their facility. This could be a simple tour of the facilities and a brief overview of your position and duties or an invitation to an event happening at your facility. This would be an excellent opportunity for our lawmakers to not only see what athletic training is, but also engage with the community. There will be a link below to a survey, if you are interested, please fill out this survey and we will reach out to you to plan a visit with your local representative! Thank you for all you do for athletic training in this state and being willing to push our profession forward!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScbfdXclplyxTFf5gjFgQ-7wMBSsGJnsBJmyIkVXiKZgH4R7A/viewform?usp=header

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Committee Reports

SCATA BEACON

Please support the SCATA BEACON Committee during the Annual SCATA Symposium during the following lecture on July 16, 2026, at 8am:

- SCATA BEACON sponsored lecture- Building Connections: The Power of Mentorship & Networking in Athletic Training

Welcome New Committee Members

SCATA BEACON would like to welcome our 2 new committee members: Samantha Holmes and Marci McLeod

Seeking Committee Members 

Get Involved with SCATA BEACON

We are currently seeking SCATA members and SCATA student members who are interested in becoming involved within the following committees:

• Ethnic Diversity Advisory Committee (EDAC)- Advocating for environments that cultivate and foster inclusivity for athletic trainers and athletic training students, specifically within the state of South Carolina. Diversity can be expressed in many ways, and actively engaging in the communities we serve can improve and expand the care we provide

• ACCESS- Working to create inclusive and accessible environments for members and patients with disabilities by identifying best practices and providing training and awareness to promote equal usability for all members

• LGBTQ+- Supporting LGBTQ+ visibility and community in athletic training spaces for members, students, and patients via educational resources and advocation within South Carolina

Committee involvement offers an opportunity to collaborate with colleagues across the state, contribute to meaningful initiatives, and help shape a professional community where all athletic trainers can thrive.

Thank You

We would like to thank our outgoing SCATA BEACON student committee members for their involvement this year- Ryein Bennett, Taylor Fields, Bernabe Juarez, and Chris Gresham.

If you are interested in joining a BEACON committee or would like to learn more, please email [email protected] for more information and fill out a SCATA committee interest form.

History Committee

We continue to collect information for our Historical Archives.  If you are new to South Carolina, left South Carolina, or have changed jobs, please let us know.  We want to include you in our history.  Everyone counts!

Have you been recognized, won an award, been acknowledged, served at the North/South All Star Games?  Please let us know.

 A Work History Questionnaire can be found here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScCxjWBFgHNNknC_jFJzu0OUy4J00N7QLqnb4DevgnuCigFKw/viewform?usp=sharing 

To submit information for our Historical Archives, please contact [email protected] or [email protected]

Historical Trivia  

Question:  Which High School(s) were the first to employ an Athletic Trainer in South Carolina?

Answer:  West Florence, Southside, Wilson, and McClenaghan High Schools in Florence County.  Florence County 1 School District hired Charles Nelson in 1971 to provide Athletic Training Services.

Honors and Awards Committee 

Please plan on sticking around after the LLR Presentation on Thursday, July 16th for our Honors, Awards, and Scholarship Presentations at 5pm. The program should be brief and those receiving honors, awards, and scholarships always appreciate the presence of their colleagues and peers. 

The Old Timer ATs have created a South Carolina LAT Patch that are still available. To order, use the QR code below to order and pay for your patch(es). Patches will also be available at the Old Timers Booth during the symposium in July.

Old Timer Spirits Raffle benefiting the SCATA Scholarship Fund:

The SCATA Old Timers are changing things up a bit this year with our annual Bourbon Raffle. While still offering a great selection of premium and high-end Bourbons, we will also offer premium and high-end rums, vodkas, and tequilas. We will also have a selection of premium wines again this year. 

All of the bottles will be displayed at the Old Timers booth in the exhibit hall, which is also where you will be able to purchase your raffle tickets. Ticket prices are 1 for $10; 3 for $25 for spirits valued between $40 and $60; Premium tickets for spirits valued at $60 or more will be $25 each. Cash, cards, and Apple Pay will be accepted. 

Winners will be drawn during the lunch break on Friday and listed on the board near our booth in the atrium outside the lecture hall. We will draw for the winners of our super premium bottle(s) during the Friday afternoon ice cream break.

If any member would like to donate a bottle of liquor or wine to the cause, we are happy to accept your donation. For liquor, the bottle should be valued at $40 or more and for the wine, $25 or more.

Please contact Dr. Jim Berry ([email protected] or 843-340-6411) with any questions or to let us know you'd like to donate.

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Annual SCATA Symposium

Registration is now live!! Be sure to register today!!

Symposium Highlights

Welcome to the 2026 Annual SCATA Symposium, Columbia, South Carolina, July 15th - July 17th, 2026. This year's symposium will feature pre con mass causality event training, educational sessions, student education track, networking events, honors and awards ceremony, and LLR educational credits. Registration will open May 1st, offering early bird pricing until June 1st, 2026.

Pre con Education

"The Athletic Trainer Response: A Mass Casualty Incident"

Student Symposium: The SCATA Student Program offers engaging educational and professional development opportunities designed to support students at every stage. Featured sessions will explore topics such as abdominal trauma management and the transition to clinical practice, alongside the always-popular Student Quiz Bowl. Students also can connect with professionals during the Preceptor's Breakfast, creating a valuable networking experience focused on guidance, career pathways, and preceptor relationships.

LLR Educational Sessions: LLR education sessions will be offered both Thursday and Friday. Topics will include: The UCL: Small Ligament, Big Problems presented by Robert, MacDonell, MD and More Than Temperature: Identifying CNS Dysfunction in Exertional Heat Stroke Cases, presented by Susan Yeargin PhD, ATC.  LLR education sessions will use QR code quiz and sign in to generate LLR continuing education course card. *Note: 2026 is a reporting year for LLR and a two (2) credits are required to be submitted with licensure renewal information.

Continuing Education: Credits will be generated at the completion of the course quiz using a QR code system. Athletic trainers will be responsible for knowledge content and receiving a passing score on quizzes for lectures and sessions they attend and report as BOC continuing education credits. Athletic trainers are responsible for maintaining records of quizzes and certificates for the required time incase of BOC audit.

Full Symposium Schedule

SCATA Golf Tournament 

Welcome to the 2026 SCATA Golf Tournament! Players will enjoy a day on the course and networking with friends and colleagues. Tournament ticket will include range balls, golf cart, breakfast and lunch.  Mulligan packages will be available for purchase at the tournament. Tournament games!  The Tournament will start with a 9am shotgun start and this is a captain's choice tournament.  

Mulligan Package (one per foursome) 

1. Mulligan Pack Offered included: Mulligans (front 9 & back 9), Putting Rope, 1 Tee-buster & others) $100. One available per team.

2. Mulligan re-purchasing options available.  $10/per

Free Communications 

The deadline for submission has passed and those who submitted a proposal will hear from the Free Communications Committee soon. 

Student Programing 

Come cheer on your favorite student team during the Quiz Bowl! Thursday, July 16th 6 - 7pm in Ballroom B & C. The winners will represent the state of South Carolina at MAATA in 2027. 

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Please join the South Carolina Athletic Trainers Association at the Columbia Fireflies game on June 13th to celebrate athletic trainers across the state! 

Get your tickets here: https://www.gofevo.com/event/Scatanight2 

South Carolina Athletic Trainer’s Association Night

• Saturday June 13^th vs. Delmarva – 6:05pm – Post Game Fireworks Show
• SCATA Members come out and enjoy a fun, action-packed night to cheering on the Fireflies as they take on Delmarva!
• Your tickets include a 90 Minute All-You-Can-Eat Picnic and a FREE Columbia Fireflies Hat!
• Adult Tickets are $28 per person plus fees
• Kids Ages 3-7 are $21 per person plus fees 
• All-You-Can-Eat-Buffet featuring:

• All-Beef Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Grilled Chicken, Pulled Pork, Mac & Cheese, Baked Beans, Pasta Salad, Banana Pudding, Pepsi Products

• Buffet Start Time:  5:00pm
• Buffet End Time:   6:30pm

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NATA News

NATA Membership Benefit 

Joining NATA offers athletic trainers valuable benefits in professional development, advocacy, connection and support, including enhanced access to the entire NATA Educate On-Demand Course Catalog and access to a variety of resources like the Salary Survey, or the NATA Career Center, the best place to find athletic training jobs. Learn more about becoming a member or renew your membership by visiting our membership section.

NATA Convention 

The 77th NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo is Monday, June 29 - Thursday, July 2, 2026 in Philadelphia! In a city that shaped America, ATs shape what's next. Arrive for the learning, stay for a summer of global sport and a once-in-250-years celebration. Lead. Learn. Celebrate. Register today!

Be sure to check out our NATA presenters from South Carolina with you are in Philadelphia! 

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MAATA News

Call for Nominations!

The MAATA is opening Nominations for three MAATA Officers. Nominations are due Wednesday, July 1, 2026 (during NATA Annual Symposium)

Offices open are:

• President

• Matt Gage will finish his one three-year term in May 2027

• Vice President

• Ashley Thrasher will finish her first two-year term in June 2027; she is eligible for one more two-year term if she chooses to run.

• Treasurer

• Mat Lyden will be finishing his first three-year term and is eligible for another three-year term beginning June 2027

Eligibility to run for MAATA for a MAATA Officer:

Eligibility to run for the officers of the MAATA are listed in the MAATA Constitution (please refer to – www.maata.org under “Member’s Only tab – password D3MAATA!)

• Election of Officers (Article 7) 

• Qualifications of Office (Article 8) 

• Note: nominees must have volunteer duties within the past seven (7) years (2019 to date) to be eligible to run 

• Governance (Article 6)

• All elected officers on this nomination call will be members of both the Executive Board and District Council.

Also see in the MAATA By-Laws (under Members’ Only Section)

• Election of Officers (Article 2)

• Terms of Office (Section 2.5)

• Duties of Office (Article 3)

• Executive Board and District Council Duties (Article 5)

• All elected officers on this nomination call will be members of both of these leadership entities 

To Self Nominate:

Submit the following on ONE email to Past Director Flanagan at [email protected] by Wednesday, July 1, 2026 (incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Applications may not be changed once submitted via email). I will confirm receipt of your post.

1. A short letter applying for the Specific open position of MAATA Officer containing your service to the profession.

2. A biographical sketch (that will be published with the ballot)

3. A professional photo

4. Current resume (the Election Committee will use your resume to determine eligibility - see Constitution, above; including certification, licensure, service within the past seven years)

1. Your service must be clearly listed with dates on your resume/vita

2. Signed Appropriate District III Consent of Obligation (found in Member’s Only section of MAATA webpage)

3. If desired, a one minute (no longer) video of why the individual wishes to run for the office may be included, but is not required

Timeline

The timeline for electing the MAATA Officers for 2027 is as follows:

• Deadline to apply: Wednesday, July 1

1. Election committee created (approval needed by District Committee); and candidates vetted

2. Approved Candidate bio, photo, and one-minute video (if included) will be posted on MAATA website (after vetting complete)

• Election: (tentative) Saturday – Saturday August 1 – 15

• Election results certified Sunday – Tuesday, August 16 – 20

• Eblast announcing winner: Friday, October 21

• Newly-elected Officers will shadow current officers beginning in November 2026

1. The elected MAATA President and Vice President will take office at the end of the MAATA Symposium in May 2027

2. The elected MAATA Treasurer will take office in June 2027 at the NATA Convention

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