Instructor Set to Receive National Awards

Fran Babich, certified athletic trainer and a physical education instructor at Butte College for 34 years received two awards from the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA). Babich will be presented with the awards in June at the National Athletic Trainers' Clinical Symposia & AT Expo in St. Louis, Mo.

Babich was honored with the Gail Weldon Award of Excellence, which is awarded to a teacher, mentor, author, athletic trainer and pioneer in the advancement of women in the field of athletic training. The Gail Weldon Award of Excellence recognizes one athletic trainer annually who has displayed an exceptional commitment to mentoring, professional development and life balancing for women athletic trainers or significant contributions to improve the health care of females provided by athletic trainers.

Babich is also the recipient of the NATA Athletic Trainer Service Award, which recognizes NATA members for their contributions to the athletic training profession as a volunteer at local and state levels. NATA Athletic Trainer Service Award recipients have been involved in professional associations, community organizations, grassroots public relations efforts and service as a volunteer athletic trainer. A total of 36 recipients were selected nationwide.

These prestigious national awards recognize National Athletic Trainers Association members for their exceptional and unique contributions to the athletic training profession. It reflects a lifetime of dedication to the association and the field of athletic training at the national and district levels.

"I am honored to be recognized for these awards and to represent Butte College at the national level," said Fran Babich, Butte College Physical Education Instructor.