Athletic Trainers' Society of New Jersey (ATSNJ) Delivers Its Highest Awards at Recent Banquet
Wayne, NJ (PRWEB) March 05, 2014 -- The Athletic Trainers’ Society of New Jersey is proud to announce the recipients of two awards considered tops in the ATSNJ. Christina Emrich, Head Athletic Trainer at Red Bank Regional High School, received the Distinguished Service Award (nominated by John Davis) and Michael Prybicien becomes the 19th inductee of the ATSNJ Hall of Fame (nominated by Robb Rehberg).
The Distinguished Service Award is given to a member of the ATSNJ who has practiced as an Athletic Trainer in the state of New Jersey for a minimum of ten years. Being that this is a service award, the criterion focuses mainly on service within New Jersey. Christina Emrich has been an Athletic Trainer in New Jersey for the past 22 years and has held many positions within the ATSNJ Organization, most currently as Treasurer since 2013. Christina is also currently a member of the Public Relations Committee, the Secondary School Committee, and the Crisis Committee. She was also the ATSNJ Central Region Representative from 2001-2005. Outside of the ATSNJ, Emrich has remained active within the profession of Athletic Training. Christina will have an upcoming role as the Medical Manager for the Special Olympics in June 2014 for which New Jersey is the host state. She acts as the Shore Conference Division Committee Representative, a NJSIAA Wresting Weight Assessor, and works as an Emergency Medical Technician as a member of the Little Silver EMS and the Tinton Falls EMS – North.
“My most distinguished contribution would have to be through my involvement on the Secondary School Committee,” said Emrich. “My passion for the profession of Athletic Training is evident in everything I do and participate in. Educating and helping our younger athletic trainers in the state is very rewarding and I want to continue moving forward helping others in our profession just as my predecessors have done for me and my colleagues.”
This is not the first time Emrich has received an award for her service and dedication to her profession. In 2009, she received the NATA/Gatorade Secondary School Award and in 2011 she became a member of both the Red Bank Regional High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame and the NJSCA/NJSIAA Hall of Fame as an Athletic Trainer.
To be inducted into the ATSNJ Hall of Fame, the individual must have a minimum of twenty years of work experience as a Certified/Licensed Athletic Trainer within the state of New Jersey, must be an ATSNJ member, and must have already received the Distinguished Service Award. Michael Prybicien has done all of that and more. Prybicien, the Head Athletic Trainer at Passaic High School, has been a member of the ATSNJ for the past 20 years. He had previously earned the ATSNJ Distinguished Service Award in 2011 and served as the ATSNJ President from 2009-2011, ATSNJ Public Relations Chairman from 2009-2012, the ATSNJ Conference Chairman from 2007-2009, and is currently a member of the Golf Outing, Public Relations, and Governmental Relations Committees. Michael also currently serves as the Public Relations Coordinator for the National Athletic Trainers’ Association District Two which is comprised of New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware.
Along with his activity within the ATSNJ, Prybicien has authored chapters in three books and been a contributing author of eight abstracts and three journal articles. He has presented at a number of ATSNJ, EATA, and NATA Conferences. 2011 Hall of Fame inductee Dr. Robb Rehberg of William Patterson University nominated Prybicien for this most prestigious award.
This is not the first time Prybicien has received an award for his work within the profession of Athletic Training. In 2006, he received the National Athletic Trainers Association - District Two Years of Service Award which is awarded in recognition of service to District as the Nominations Chairperson. In 2009, he was awarded the Passaic County Coaches Association Distinguished Service Award in recognition of service to Passaic County Student Athletes. In 2011, he was awarded with the Distinguished Service Award from the ATSNJ; and in 2012, he was inducted into the 2012 Saint Peter's College Athletic Hall of Fame in recognition to the athletic training services provided as part of the 2001 Saint Peter's College Football team. From 2010 – 2012, the ATSNJ Public Relations Committee won the National Athletic Trainers’ Association’s Public Relations Award under the directon of Prybicien.
When asked what has helped contribute to his success, Prybicien said, “I have been blessed to have been surrounded and to have worked with many great people within the ATSNJ and in the profession of athletic training in New Jersey. It is because of these people that during my time within leadership positions in the ATSNJ we have been able to accomplish so much.”
The ATSNJ would like to congratulate both Christina Emrich and Michael Prybicien on their awards and thank them for their years of service to the profession of Athletic Training both in New Jersey and throughout the country.
About the Athletic Trainers’ Society of New Jersey
ATSNJ, Inc. consists of licensed athletic trainers, physicians and other allied health care professionals whose goal is to promote quality healthcare for athletes in any setting. For more information on athletic training and various other sport safety issues, please visit: http://www.atsnj.org, like us on Facebook at “ATSNJ’s" New Jersey Sports Safety and follow us on Twitter @NJSportSafety.
Mike Prybicien, District 2 National Athletic Trainers Association, http://www.natad2.org/, +1 (201) 788-2961, [email protected]
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