Colquitt Co. athletic medical trainers receive state awards

MOULTRIE, Ga. – Two employees at Colquitt County’s Vereen Rehabilitation Center have received awards for their groundbreaking achievement and dedication to their craft.

“Anytime that you get selected by your peers for recognition is just a very humbling honor,” said Jaclyn Donovan, Athletic Training Services Coordinator.

But, Jaclyn Donovan winning the Warren Morrison Sports Medicine award wasn’t the only accomplishment that came from the Vereen Rehabilitation Center as trainer Kathleen Rubino won the Lori Groover Leadership award and scholarship as well.

“I’ve worked for the past 2 years with the Vereen Center and Colquitt county of getting to where I am today and getting that award shows more of how much I’ve done and want to continue to do,” said Kathleen Rubino, Certified Athletic Trainer at Vereen Rehabilitation Center.

Even with accomplishments as monumental as these, learning never stops for athletic trainers.

“You just have a big learning curve and you continue to learn but it’s also an awesome thing, we’re bringing new things to our athletes every day,” said Rubino.

And, with the help of Georgia’s Athletic Training Association Chair Jaclyn Donovan, trainers in Georgia will continue to learn certifying.

“Over 40 students through that program where they come here, they earn their masters degree, 2 years of working experience on their resume and they go on to work wherever they choose to,” said Donovan.

Sports medicine deals with more than injuries and bandages.

“I love making relationships and communicating well with my athletes, they never have a dull moment,” said Rubino.

Cameron Sanders reporting.

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