I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by. -Douglas Adams

Deadlines.  Our lives always seem to revolve around deadlines. Some very important deadlines are approaching, and simply taking the time to complete an application could not only help you financially, but could also make a great impact on your professional career. 

First, applications for the 2014-2015 SWATA Student Senate are being accepted until March 21st. All students who are interested in taking a leadership role should apply!! The Student Senate plans student programming at the annual meeting, disperses information among the student membership via a newsletter, and represents the student membership to the leaders of our great district. Consider applying for a position! Applications and eligibility information can be found on the SWATA homepage.  Scroll down a little and you will see the link!

Also, as Paul Dunham, SWATA Scholarship Committee Chair, explained so well in his February 20^th blog, scholarship applications are being accepted until April 1^st.  Couldn’t you use a little extra cash to pay for books?  How about the BOC exam?  Again, applications and eligibility requirements can be found by scrolling down on the SWATA homepage.  This application can be done entirely online.

You can also click here to apply for the Bobby Gunn Student Leadership Award, which provides a travel stipend and waived registration fee for a student member who has never attended the NATA annual meeting.  Applications are due April 11^th.  You will need to include a one page essay describing your involvement in athletic training and a clear understanding of Bobby Gunn’s impact on the athletic training profession.  More information on Bobby Gunn may be found in the April 2007 edition of the NATA News.

Finally, last but certainly not least, the SWATA Research & Free Communications committee (formerly the Student Poster Contest Committee) is accepting abstracts for presentations at the annual meeting in July.  Applications are due May 2^nd and can also be found after scrolling down on the SWATA homepage.

Each one of these is an opportunity for students to advance their professional career.  Will YOU take the time to apply?  You never know what doors it might open for you!!

Finally, I’d like to encourage all students to register for the 60^th SWATA Annual Meeting in Frisco, TX July 17-19.  This year’s student programming will feature manual therapy, dry needling, and the always popular mock interviews, just to name a few.

Written by:

Laura Kunkel, MS, ATC, LAT, PES

SWATA Student Leadership Development Committee Chair