CUW professor Dr. Kate Liesener and student Megan Haller recently received WATA awards for their excellence in athletic training.
Dr. Kate Liesener and student Megan Haller receive WATA awards
Dr. Katherine Liesener is the athletic training program director in the health and human performance department at Concordia University Wisconsin. Additionally, you can find her treating patients or teaching several different foundation, organization, and administration classes. Check out our Q + A with Dr. Liesener about her program’s recent accomplishments.
Tell us about the WATA award you received.
I received the 2021 Wisconsin Athletic Trainers’ Association (WATA) Outstanding Educator Award. Members of the WATA who have contributed to the education of athletic training students in the state of Wisconsin can be nominated for this award. I was humbled that Dr. Rhonda Verdegan, Associate Professor of Health and Human Performance at Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW), as well as several CUW Athletic Training students nominated me for this award. At the 2022 WATA Annual Business Meeting and Symposium, I was deeply honored to be recognized and receive this award in-person. I have pushed our CUW Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) program to new heights and plan to continue to do so!
Recently, your student also won a WATA award. Could you tell us about this as well?
Megan Haller, a fourth year student in the CUW MSAT program, received the Mueller Professional Scholarship. Mueller Sports Medicine has been a long-standing supporter of the WATA and athletic trainers in the state of Wisconsin. The Mueller Professional Scholarship is awarded to Athletic Training Students who distinguish themselves academically and professionally. Megan is certainly deserving of this award. She encompasses the determination and passion to become a successful athletic trainer.
What kind of growth are you seeing in your students and your program?
The CUW MSAT program has gone through several changes during the past several years. In 2015, CUW was the first athletic training program in the state of Wisconsin to transition from a bachelor’s level to a master’s level program. Then in 2020, the CUW MSAT program unveiled two new additional paths of study. Now, students wishing to pursue athletic training at CUW can choose one of three pathways to completion: a 2-year stand-alone graduate program, a 4-year Dual Degree Scholars program (BS in Sports Medicine and MS in Athletic Training combined), or a 5-year Dual Degree program (BS in Sports Medicine and MS in Athletic Training combined). Three paths to completion offers new opportunities and flexibility for our students.
Why should someone consider choosing Concordia’s athletic training program for their studies?
The CUW MSAT program has a long-standing history of graduating well-prepared athletic trainers. Graduates find themselves working in a variety of settings after completing their program. Their ability to excel in the workforce is a reflection of their hard work during the program. Furthermore, as mentioned above, our high performing (Scholar) students have an unprecedented opportunity to earn both a Bachelor of Science in Sports Medicine degree and a Master of Science in Athletic Training degree in four years.
Do you want to know more?
Click below to learn more information about Concordia University Wisconsin’s Master’s in Athletic Training program.
You can also book a call with one of our Inquiry Support Specialists. They’re ready to answer your questions and connect you to the information you need.
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