University of North Carolina Athletics
Athletic Trainers Boyd, Walker Earn National Honors
June 2, 2015 | Football
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - University of North Carolina athletic trainers Kenny Boyd and Nina Walker have been honored by the National Athletic Trainer's Association (NATA) for outstanding service and active involvement on campus, athletic training associations and promotion of their profession.
Boyd, who handles the athletic training needs for the Carolina football team, was honored as the Association's Division I Assistant Athletic Trainer of the Year, an award that goes to one individual each year for exceptional performance as an athletic trainer.
Boyd is entering his second season as the head athletic trainer for football. He joined the UNC sports medicine staff after 11 seasons as the head football athletic trainer at Texas. He is a co-leader of project team with the NATA focused on developing a value model for collegiate athletic trainers. Boyd also frequently presents on various sports medicine topics pertaining to collegiate student-athletes. He has also worked on the sports medicine staffs at Colorado, Mississippi State and Northwestern.
Walker, who is the athletic trainer for UNC's cross country and men's lacrosse teams, was named the New Horizon Award winner, which recognizes one athletic trainer in the collegiate setting who has demonstrated the attributes of a future leader in the profession.
Walker has been on the UNC staff since 2006. She has academic roles in the undergraduate and graduate programs, including undergraduate athletic training recruitment. She also serves on the Board of Directors as well as Public Relations Chair for the North Carolina Athletic Trainers Association and has recently been appointed NATA liaison to US Lacrosse.
“These awards are an incredible honor for Kenny and Nina,” said UNC Director of Sports Medicine Dr. Mario Ciocca. “They both represent their profession at the highest level locally and nationally. We are fortunate they are a part of UNC Sports Medicine.”
