NATA Foundation Scholarship Program Process

1. NATA Foundation Scholarship Program Process Scholarship Application Process Scholarship Application posted on NATA Foundation website (Application Open from November to 3rd week of January) NOTE: This is the intention to apply for a scholarship. Final Scholarship Application MUST be completed by first week of February. Incomplete applications removed from system. Intention to Apply: verify student’s NATA membership and allows student to enter names & contact information for Nominating AT and Institutional Representative. Scholarship Application Intention to Apply closed 3rd week of January. Only those applicants with “Intent to Apply” will be allowed to finish applications. NATA Foundation Staff sends email to student confirming application status along with reminder to complete Scholarship Application by due date during 1st week of February. Scholarship Application Process continues

2. NATA Foundation Scholarship Program Process NATA Foundation Staff sends emails & forms to Nominating AT and Institutional Representative with instructions for completion by due date during 1st week of February. Scholarship Application Process Scholarship Application process is closed the first week of February. No more entries can be made on web based application. Scholarship Application Review Process Scholarship Application Review Process NATA Foundation Staff begins verification of completed scholarship applications. Complete applications are determined by three characteristics: 1) Applicant has completed essay and clinical experience section; 2) Nominating AT letter received; 3) Institutional Representative letter received Process takes 2-3 weeks based on volume of applicants. Scholarship Application Review Process continues

3. NATA Foundation Scholarship Program Process Scholarship Application Review Process Incomplete applications are marked as “Incomplete” on roster • Two review cycles • Begins by last week of February • District 4 – Undergraduate, Entry Level Masters, Masters, Doctoral • D4 sponsors five (5) endowed scholarships and contracts require announcement of winners at March GLATA meeting. • All non-selected applicants go forward for all other awards. • Begins by middle of March • All other Districts – Undergraduate, Entry Level Masters, Masters, Doctoral Scholarship Application Review Process continues

4. NATA Foundation Scholarship Program Process Scholarship Application Review Process • Scholarship Reviews • NATA Foundation Scholarship Committee Chair provides NATA Staff with names of applicants assigned to specific reviewers. • NATA Foundation Staff uploads Nominating AT letter and Institutional Representative Letter to Scholarship Reviewer’s Abstract Manager Profile. • Scholarship reviewers access applications via Abstract Manager and complete reviews. • Rubric provides reviewers with guide to scoring the scholarship applications. District 4 Reviews Process finished ~Early March • All other District Reviews • Process finished • ~ Early April Scholarship Application Review Process continues

5. NATA Foundation Scholarship Program Process Scholarship Rubric has seven areas of evaluation. Each area is worth a maximum of 10 points. Each category is weighted and totals are between 2‐10. • GPA and Transcripts (15%) • Nominating ATC (30%) • Student Questions (35%) • AT Clinical Assignments and/or past jobs (10%) • AT experiences outside of jobs or CAATE required assignments (5%) • Activities/Clubs/Association Membership related to Academic Program/Athletic Training(5%) • Activities/Clubs/Community or Civic Service (not related to athletic training) (5%) Total Individual Applicant Score is the sum of percentage scores (2‐10 points). Three reviewers review each application. Final applicant score is the average of the submitted reviewer scores (2‐10 points). Scholarship Application Review Process Scholarship Application Review Process continues

6. NATA Foundation Scholarship Program Process Scholarship Application Review Process • Grade Point Average • Use reported GPA and that verified by Institutional Representative (see uploaded attachment in Abstract Manager). • Entry Level: Last five semesters of UG work • Masters: Last five semesters of UG work & any Master’s degree work • Doctoral: Last five semesters of UG work & all Master’s plus any Doctoral work. • Nominating AT Letter • CONTENT – Should support a student…what makes them stand out? Are they a dime a dozen or are they a one of a kind? • GRAMMAR/SPELLING – DO NOT hold this against candidate…it is not their fault. Scholarship Application Review Process continues

7. NATA Foundation Scholarship Program Process Scholarship Application Review Process • Student Questions • CONTENT – Did they address the areas they were asked to address? • GRAMMAR/SPELLING – This is important but use your judgment. Obviously this area takes away from content and should be noted, but step back and ask yourself…how bad is it? • AT Clinical Assignments and/or past jobs • AT experiences outside of jobs or CAATE required assignments (e.g., recreational events, marathons, state/city games, and/or Special Olympics) • Activities/Clubs/Association Membership related to Academic Program/Athletic Training • Activities/Clubs/Community or Civic Service (not related to athletic training) Scholarship Application Review Process continues

8. NATA Foundation Scholarship Program Process Example of points assigned using rubric (trends continue for scores of 5, 4, 3, & 2) Scholarship Application Review Process continues

9. NATA Foundation Scholarship Program Process Example of points assigned using rubric (trends continue for scores of 5, 4, 3, & 2) Scholarship Application Review Process continues

10. NATA Foundation Scholarship Program Process Scholarship Committee Reviewers upload final scores for each of the seven (7) categories to Abstract Manager by deadlines previously set. Scholarship Application Review Process NATA Staff acquires the scores for the candidates from Abstract Manager and provides NATA Scholarship Committee Chair with a TOTAL APPLICANT SCORE (average of 3 reviewers). Scholarship applicants are then ranked with category in descending manner from a score of 10 to the lowest score. Any ties are settled by the NATA Scholarship Committee Chair. GPA, Nominating AT letter, and Student Essays are used to distinguish between applicants. Higher GPA, better overall rating by Nom AT, and /or better quality answers to essays help break the tie. Scholarship Selection & Award Process

11. NATA Foundation Scholarship Program Process Scholarship Selection & Award Process Number of Scholarships Awarded Determined based on number of scholarships available & number of applicants by category. For example, if there are 60 scholarships available & 40% of the applicants were undergraduates, then 24 scholarships would be awarded in this category. So, the top 24 scorers in the undergraduate category would receive a scholarship. NATA Foundation Scholarship Committee Chair determines winners based on: Formula for number of scholarships to award by category Order of scores from 10 to lowest score within number of available scholarships The specific scholarship is determined by NATA Foundation Scholarship Committee Chair based on the specific requirements of named scholarship. Scholarships are often designated by district, category, and/or ethnicity. Scholarship Selection & Award Process continues

12. NATA Foundation Scholarship Program Process Scholarship Selection & Award Process NATA Foundation Director helps resolve any conflicts of interest or issues with meeting scholarship restrictions. Potential scholarship winners & assigned scholarships are approved by NATA Foundation Director. NATA Foundation Board of Directors approves recommended scholarship winners via Board Call in late April. All scholarship award winners are notified by the 3rd week of April. Thanks for your interest in the NATA Foundation Scholarship Program! Go to http://natafoundation.org/portfolio/scholarships-2/