NEW HAVEN, Conn. (July 11, 2019) -- Nyack College Head Athletic Trainer Penny Foland in late June received a prestigious award when she was named the NCAA Division II Head AT of the Year, as announced by the Intercollegiate Council for Sports Medicine (ICSM). Foland was presented with her award in conjunction with the 70th annual National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) convention at Mandaly Bay in Las Vegas. She was selected as the year's top head athletic trainer among nearly 320 Division II programs in the country.

Foland's family and representatives from the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) -- Commissioner Dan Mara, Nyack AD Keith Davie and Caldwell Vice President for Athletics/CACC Directors Council President Mark Corino -- were in attendance to watch her receive the honor.

To be eligible for the D2 Head AT-of-the-Year award, the individual must currently be employed as a full-time head athletic trainer (or equivalent) in a collegiate setting; professional experience in a collegiate setting (does not have to be continuous or at the same institution); and experiences as head athletic trainer (or equivalent).

Foland has proudly been serving Nyack College for nearly three decades as an athletic trainer. She began at the school in 1991, and currently oversees the athletic training department with a staff of two. The department oversees the athletic training needs for 12 NCAA Division II varsity sports programs at Nyack.

In addition to serving her institution, Foland has also served as an advocate for the athletic trainer profession throughout the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC).

"Penny has dedicated her life to working with the student-athletes (her "kids") at Nyack College, and advocating for their health and safety," said Georgian Court University Director of Sports Medicine & Performance Joe Friedrich, ATC, CSCS, who currently serves as the Chair of the CACC AT Council. "Penny has been a long time leader within the CACC and has helped bring recognition and awareness of athletic training to the conference.  She has watched the number of CACC athletic trainers grow from just two throughout the entire conference to over 50. In that time many of the faces have changed, but Penny has remained."

Foland earned a pair of undergraduate degrees from Messiah College in Pre-Med/Biology and Athletic Training.

ABOUT THE CACC
The Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference is an NCAA Division II Conference composed of 14 institutions in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The member institutions are Bloomfield College, Caldwell University, Chestnut Hill College, Concordia (N.Y.) College, Dominican (N.Y.) College, Felician University, Georgian Court University, Goldey-Beacom College, Holy Family University, Jefferson (Philadelphia University + Thomas Jefferson University), Nyack College, Post University of Waterbury, University of the Sciences, and Wilmington University.