HBA Athletic Trainer Sam Lee tends to an injured student at a basketball game. Photo courtesy of James Miura

Hawaii Baptist Academy has received the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Safe Sports School 1st Team Award. The award recognizes schools that provide safe athletic environments and highlights the importance of seeking the highest standards possible for the care, injury prevention and treatment for student-athletes. HBA is the first school in the state of Hawaii to receive this distinction. Nearly 250 schools nationwide have won this award.

“We are honored to receive this recognition from the NATA. From our athletic department staff, athletic trainers and coaches, to our administration and faculty, we have a team of individuals who are committed to the health and well-being of our student-athletes,” said Deren Oshiro, HBA’s Athletic Director.

Oshiro says the application process required over 75 pages of forms and supporting documents that included their program’s athletic handbook, emergency action plans for all of their practice and contest venues, injured athlete guidelines, hot weather safety guidelines and concussion protocols.

“I’m very thankful to athletic trainers Sam Lee and Shannon Keen for leading the way for us. As they often remind us, everyone here at HBA is a part of the school’s athletic health care team,” Oshiro said. "We would also like to extend a special thanks to Dr. Rachel Coel, Medical Director of The Queen's Medical Center for Sports Medicine, for her time, energy, and resources in assisting in the process of Hawaii Baptist Academy becoming an NATA Safe Sports School Award recipient."

For this honor, HBA will receive a banner and a certificate from the NATA. The banner will be displayed in HBA’s Dan Liu Gymnasium.

HBA Athletic Trainer Shannon Keen works with a student prior to cross country practice. Photo courtesy of Deren Oshiro.

The NATA is an association of certified athletic trainers and others who support the athletic training profession with more than 35,000 members worldwide.