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Hughes Joined by Grads, Student to Receive Athletic Training Association Honors

By Jeff Murphy, April 17, 2018

WARRENSBURG, MO – After earning state recognition in 2017 as Missouri Athletic Trainer of the Year by the Missouri Athletic Trainers’ Association (MoATA), University of Central Missouri faculty member Brian Hughes’s efforts to serve and advance his profession has resulted in recognition on a multi-state level.  

Hughes was one of three individuals with UCM connections who were recognized during the Mid-America Athletic Trainers’ Association (MAATA) annual Honor and Awards Banquet March 16 in Omaha, Neb. Hughes received the Service Award, which honors MAATA members for their distinctive contributions to the athletic training profession at the local, state and district levels. Also recognized at the banquet was MAATA Professional Scholarship recipient Holly Nelson, who is currently a UCM junior athletic training major; MAATA Hall of Fame inductee, John R. Donnell, who graduated with a Master of Science in Athletic Training degree in 1977 from UCM; and MAATA Post-Professional Scholarship recipient Paden Maudlin, who received a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training degree from UCM in 2017 .


Hughes, who has worked as a faculty member at UCM since 2001, serves as professor of athletic training and director of the Athletic Training program in the College of Health, Science and Technology. His contributions to the field of athletic training and its professional service organization are numerous. This is the fifth consecutive year Hughes has chaired the MAATA annual meeting, which this year was attended by nearly 800 people.  He has chaired the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) professional development committee and the NATA Educators’ Conference committee, served as the meeting coordinator and education conference committee for MAATA  and has been active with the Missouri Athletic Trainers’ Association (MoATA), having hosted several state meetings.

At UCM, Hughes has played a significant role in developing curriculum and maintaining standards leading to accreditation of the UCM program in 2006 by the Commission on the Accreditation of Athletic Training Programs. He currently teachers courses in athletic training, orthopedic assessment and professional development, and serves as program advisor for UCM students seeking the Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training degrees.

In recognizing Nelson, it was noted that she currently carries a 3.72 GPA, and although her main study is in athletic training, she also is working toward a bachelor’s degree in physical education with a concentration in exercise science and minors in sport management and coaching. She is interested in teaching and working with children. Nelson gains experience in this area by working in child care for her church and serving as a coach for a local youth swim teach.  She volunteers with community outreach through the university and is active in UCM’s Athletic Training Student Association and the Athletic Training Program Selection Committee.

As a Hall of Fame inductee, Donnell received MAATA’s highest honor. His athletic training career began in 1978 covering various campus and sporting events at many levels while working as a high school instructor and coach. He became an athletic trainer/instructor at Blue Springs High School in 1986, and took the same type of position the following year at Lee’s Summit High School (LSHS). Although he retired from LSHS in 2004, Donnell went on to become an athletic trainer/instructor for William Jewell College, where he served until 2009, and is currently an athletic trainer for Raytown High School.

Extremely involved in his profession, Donnell has covered many events that include U.S. Men’s Olympic Volleyball and Wrestling, National Bullriders’ Association competitions, U.S. Olympic Training Center events, Show-Me Games, and much more.  He has held numerous leadership positions for NATA and MAATA, and has been honored with many awards. This includes NATA’s Service Award in 2015 and Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award in 2016.

Maudlin is a graduate assistant athletic trainer at Northwest Missouri State University, having graduated from UCM with a bachelor’s degree in athletic training. While at UCM, he worked with numerous athletic teams and participated in a summer internship with the Denver Broncos. He served for two years on the Student Leadership Committee at UCM, and twice received the Dr. Ronald VanDam Athletic Training Student Scholarship. At NWMSU, he currently serves as the primary athletic trainer for softball and assisted with college football in the fall.  He is pursuing a master’s degree in health and physical education and will obtain his teaching certificate upon completion of his graduate program at NWMSU.

The MAATA is an organization with a mission that includes enhancing the professional and leadership abilities of its members who serve in the athletic training profession by providing encouragement, mentorship and improvement opportunities.  

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