DALTON, Ga. (June 12, 2026) – Hamilton Sports Medicine’s Megan Kennedy has received a national award for her work as an assistant athletic trainer at Dalton State College.
The National Athletic Trainers Association – Intercollegiate Sport Medicine Council (NATA-ICSM) recognizes one athletic trainer each year with the Doug Boersma New Horizon Award. The award honors a college athletic trainer who demonstrates commitment to their student athletes, institutions and the athletic training community.
“Megan is a great leader on our team,” said Ryan Bonnano, Hamilton Sports Medicine manager. “She’s looked up to and trusted by the entire staff, her school and her athletes. We are extremely proud of her and her achievements.”
Kennedy, MS, LAT, ATC, will be recognized at the NATA Clinical Symposium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on June 30. She has worked at Dalton State for three years.
Sherman Howze, Hamilton Sports Medicine head athletic trainer, said Kennedy’s overall growth in what is her first official full-time job is remarkable. Prior to Dalton State, she was at the University of Denver.
“Watching her grow over the years and distinguish herself as an athletic trainer who has impacted the whole athletic program has been a privilege,” he said. “She has had the composure in her role to help mentor other athletic trainers who had questions or needed to learn something.”
Howze said Kennedy especially inspires young women, including student athletic trainers she mentors, to reach their fullest potential in what is traditionally a male-dominated field.
“The nominations for this award are open to every athletic trainer in a collegiate setting — from large universities to smaller institutions,” Howze said. “She won it, and that is wonderful.”