Iota Tau Alpha is an Athletic Training Education Honor Society.  About 14 years ago, GVSU created a chapter whose faculty advisor is Dr. Brian Hatzel.  Over those years, students have raised over $30,000.  In 2019, the members of Iota Tau Alpha have decided to turn those funds into a scholarship titled the Athletic Training Student Excellence Scholarship. This scholarship's purpose is to support a student in the Master of Athletic Training Program who has excelled in the academic, clinical, and leadership aspects of the program and plans to pursue a career in athletic training.

The Excellence in a Discipline Awards honor one undergraduate student and one graduate student in each academic major.  Faculty select the award recipient for each academic major who demonstrates commitment and contributions to both the program and the profession; including student development, leadership, and communication both inside and outside of the classroom.

Doug and Linda Woods have served the students of Grand Valley State University for over thirty years. For the majority of the time, Doug provided health care to the student-athletes as the athletic department’s Head Athletic Trainer. In 1978 Doug developed a curriculum for educating athletic training students. For eighteen years, Doug was the GVSU softball coach until his retirement in 2014. Linda has provided educational support to the students through her work as a reference librarian at the Zumberge Library. In honor of Doug and Linda, the Woods Scholarships are awarded to the athletic training student(s) in appreciation of their academic success and dedication to Grand Valley’s athletic training program.

To honor the memory of Todd Jager, Grand Valley’s Head Athletic Trainer for 10 years, family and friends have created the Todd Jager Memorial Graduate Athletic Training Student Award Endowment fund. It was created in the spring of 2008 to assist graduate students pursuing a career in college athletic training. Todd spent his college and professional years in college athletics and recognized the significant dedication and determination involved to pursue this profession. It is fitting that Todd’s battle with brain cancer required similar dedication and determination to continue to do what he loved, which was to provide medical care for college athletes.

This scholarship will provide financial support to outstanding graduate students working as a graduate assistants in Grand Valley State University’s Intercollegiate Athletic Department who demonstrate the values, character, and perseverance that Todd worked so hard to embody. The recipient will have a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training or a similar major and be pursuing an athletic training career in college athletics, with preference given to students with involvement in campus ministry.