FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 6, 2015

For More Information:
Glenville State College
Public Relations Department
(304) 462-4115

GLENVILLE, WV - For the first time since its inception, a trio of staff members was presented with Glenville State College's 'Pete and Betsy Barr Professional Development Award.' The award, which provides funds to further professional growth and development, was presented to GSC Sports Medicine personnel Brent Walters, Jennifer Tolson, and Dr. Carl Nichols. Walters and Tolson serve as Athletic Trainers and Nichols as Team Physician.

The group plans to use the funds to attend the College Athletic Trainers’ Society (CATS) 2015 Spring Symposium for Athletic Trainers & Team Physicians to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada in May. Participation in the symposium will allow them to receive continuing education credits and maintain certification from the Board of Certification for Athletic Trainers. Additionally, they will interact with other NCAA institutions at the symposium to exchange ideas on student athlete healthcare. Being informed and updated on current and future NCAA guidelines for sports medicine will be a major topic of interest for the group.

"Attending the CATS symposium together will be a unique opportunity for our staff. The event is strictly college and university athletic trainers and team physicians, so it will be interesting to hear from our counterparts at other institutions, big and small, to see how they approach healthcare in college athletics. Obviously, we're grateful for the support of President and Mrs. Barr and their recognition of how importation professional development is for our faculty and staff," said Walters.

"Our intent in funding this award is to expand the opportunities for our staff and faculty to grow professionally in a way that will benefit all of us here at Glenville State. We are pleased that this year's award will help our entire Sports Medicine staff," said President Barr.

The award, rotated annually between faculty and staff, has been given previously to: GSC Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. Sara Sawyer (2010), Administrative Secretary for the GSC Athletic Department and Title IX Coordinator/Senior Women’s Administrator Amanda Frymier (2011), Associate Professor of Business Cheryl Fleming McKinney, CPA, CGMA (2012), Registrar’s Office Certification Analyst Denise Ellyson (2013), and Assistant Professor of Spanish Dr. Megan Gibbons (2014).

Barr Award recipients are selected by a committee comprised of two faculty members and two staff representatives and funds must be used within 18 months of the award date.

For more information about the Pete and Betsy Barr Professional Development Award, contact Vice President for College Advancement and Executive Director of GSC Foundation and Chairman of the Pete and Betsy Barr Professional Development Award Selection Committee Denny Pounds at Dennis.Pounds@glenville.edu or (304) 462-6381.