FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – For the second consecutive year, Nova Southeastern Sports Medicine is on the slate for professional recognition, as athletic trainer Jessie Bollback was named the recipient of the Backbone Award from The Athletic Trainers’ Association of Florida (ATAF) during the virtual 2020 ATAF Symposium over the weekend.
“I am honored and grateful to have been selected as the recipient of the 2020 ATAF Backbone Award,” Bollback said. “Thank you to the NSU Athletic Training staff, both past & present, for all of your impact and influence.”
The ATAF’s Backbone Award is presented to an assistant athletic trainer that has played a major role as backbone to the head athletic trainer. This award recognizes the hard-working individuals that independently and unselfishly give of themselves, assisting the head AT about and beyond the call of the job.
“Jessie has earned the 2020 ATAF Backbone Award through her selfless commitment to her student-athletes and her colleagues,” Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine Zevon Stubblefield said. “Anyone who works with Jessie knows that she brings an innovative, intelligent and precise solution to every problem encountered. NSU is very proud of Jessie. Please join me in congratulating Jessie for earning this well-deserved award.”
Beginning her career with Nova Southeastern as a graduate assistant, Bollback rejoined the Sharks full time in 2016 as an athletic trainer and currently works with the women’s basketball and women’s tennis teams. However, her work for NSU goes well beyond an AT role, coordinating the electronic documentation and records for the athletic training department, as well as the website and social media for the department. She serves on NSU Athletics’ High-Five committee, completed the NSU Emerging Leadership Program and has led the planning for pre-participation physical exams. In addition, she coordinated temporary employees and concussion testing during the NSU 2020 winter semester.
Tracking back to last year, Amy Gatens was named ATAF Athletic Trainer of the Year for the Sharks in 2018-19, while part-time athletic trainer Dustin Gatens and student athletic trainer Ramon Ramirez also both received individual awards from the ATAF.
To keep up with NSU Sports Medicine on social media, please follow the Sharks at @NSU_AT on Twitter and on Instagram at @NSU_AT. To follow everything happening with the Sharks, follow the main accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @NSUSharks and on Facebook at Nova Southeastern Athletics.
