Article reposted from NJ.com
Author: Community Bulletin
Washington Township High School athletic trainer Eric Schwartz has been selected as the recipient of two prestigious awards within his field.
Schwartz is among a group of winners of the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) Athletic Trainer Service Award, and the sole winner of the Athletic Trainers Society of New Jersey’s (ATSNJ) Distinguished Service Award for 2018. Schwartz was nominated for the awards by WTHS head athletic trainer Tanya Dargusch. The duo have worked together since Schwartz joined the department in 2011.
“Eric is very deserving of these awards,” said Dargusch, who won the NATA Service Award in 2008 and the ATSNJ Distinguished Service Award in 2007. “He has been a leader in the athletic training profession, on both the state and national levels. He carries that same excellence in the work he does here with our athletes at Washington Township.”
The prestigious NATA Athletic Trainer Service award recognizes NATA members for their contributions to the athletic training profession as a volunteer at the local and state levels. Recipients have been involved in professional associations, community organizations, grassroots public relations efforts and service as a volunteer athletic trainer.
Schwartz and his fellow NATA award recipients – 20 years as a member of NATA is required – will be recognized during the general session at the 2018 NATA Convention in New Orleans on June 28 at 3 p.m.
The ATSNJ Distinguished Service Award goes to a member with a minimum of 10 years of experience as a certified/licensed athletic trainer in New Jersey and focuses on achievement and service within the state.
“We congratulate Eric on another fine honor recognizing the work he does with our student-athletes at WTHS, also noting the work he does for the ATC profession across the State of New Jersey and our country,” Washington Township Director of Athletics Kevin Murphy said. “What an awesome year 2018 is shaping up to be for Eric and his family. We’re thrilled to have him working at WTHS.”
Prior to coming to Washington Township, Schwartz was head athletic trainer at Allentown (N.J.) High School (2005-11) and Notre Dame High School in Lawrenceville, N.J. (2000-05), and an athletic trainer at West Windsor-Plainsboro (N.J.) High School from 1999-2000.
Throughout his career, Schwartz has been heavily involved in local and national organizations for the advancement of athletic training. He currently is the president of the Jersey Athletic Trainers Political Action Committee Board of Directors. He’s a past president of ATSNJ, where he served on numerous committees, including the conference committee, government affairs, secondary schools, and wrestling rules.