"My time as a Kenny Howard Fellow proved to be invaluable to me! Working with the students, coaches, physicians and other KHF athletic trainers provided a unique and rewarding experience that is difficult to find in other programs. It was wonderful to feel accepted as a part of a community in a “family” atmosphere that is often associated with the schools that are covered under the KHF umbrella. I developed some life-long friendships that I will cherish!"

Robin Martin, M.Ed.
2002-2004 Fellow

"Kenny Howard personifies all that is good in athletic training, sports medicine and Auburn University."

John H. Anderson '65, ATC/L
Retired head athletic trainer
Louisiana State University

"I found the KHF to be a very positive experience. The various experiences from the HS to AU rugby to covering a rodeo broadened my horizons on the special needs of athletes of different sports. Working closely with Dr. McAlindon was a great educational experience, and his willingness to take time to teach was much appreciated. Although I was one of the first fellows to go through the program, it went very smooth, and it is an experience that helped me to get where I am today. WAR EAGLE! "

Seth Kinley, M.Ed., ATC
Coordinator Sports Medicine
Susquehanna Health
1998-1999 Fellow

"Kenny was kind of Coach Jordan’s sounding board. He always knew what to say to calm you down or get you going. When everybody is there, beating with the same heartbeat, you can definitely feel that support. It’s part of who we became as men."

Pat Sullivan '72
Head football coach, Samford University
Former Auburn quarterback, 1971 Heisman Trophy winner

"I started with the Kenny Howard Fellowship in August 2009 and left in December 2010 after graduating and receiving a job offer from Jacksonville State University. Choosing the KHF above other programs I had applied to was one of the best decisions I ever made! Although it isn't perfect (as no program is), it was truly a great fit for me. I received my undergrad degree from the University of Georgia. It was an amazing program, but it was a place where as a student we had almost anything we needed at our fingertips and supervisors at an arm’s length. I wanted a variety of work experiences to round out my education. Since I had worked with Division I teams, I knew I wanted to work at a program that put me at a high school.
The fellowship placed me at Beauregard High School, where I occasionally had to get very creative with rehabilitations for my student athletes. Although my budget did not allow me to have every modality or piece of rehabilitation equipment at my fingertips, what I did have was a huge support system! Chad, the program director, was always just a phone call away. He does anything and everything within his power to make sure the fellows have anything they need and are happy. He is really passionate about what he does at his high school and with helping recent graduates take that next step into the real world! I learned so much from the physical therapists at RehabWorks and from Dr. Bob, Dr. Lyle, and the rest of the Boneyard crew. They will also do everything they can to assist with whatever is needed.
Hopefully, if you end up in Auburn, you will realize that everyone associated with the KHF is like a family, and they will all welcome you will open arms! The majority of high schools we work with are in great need of us, because without the fellowship they would not be able to afford an athletic trainer. I learned so much in the year and a half I was there. The lessons were not just about refining my athletic training skills; there were great lessons in how to interact with coaches, parents, administrators, etc. Although everyone has to go through that "new kid" phase, the student athletes will quickly begin to trust you. While working with these kids, you will not only have the chance to take care of their physical injuries and needs, but you will also have the chance to be a good influence in their lives!
It was a very hard decision for me to leave Auburn a semester early, and a lot of that had to do with the relationships I had built with my athletes, parents, coworkers, and coaches. Chad really supported me through the decision and made sure that I knew from the beginning that he wanted whatever was best for me. You will rarely get the chance to work with such a genuine, caring person! In addition, my coaches, parents, and athletes were all extremely supportive of my decision to move. A couple of months after I left, I had the chance to go watch the Beauregard softball team play in a tournament that was not far from my new home. My coach basically summed up my entire experience when he said, "HEY! You better get in this dugout! You are one of us... Once a Hornet, Always a Hornet!" Once a Kenny Howard Fellow, always a Kenny Howard Fellow."

Sara Mullinax
2009-2011 Fellow

"I learned more about Athletic Training in one semester with the Kenny Howard Fellowship than I did in two years of undergrad. Great people and experiences surround this program."

Brian Eschen, M.Ed., ATC, LAT, CSCS
Head Athletic Trainer
Seabreeze High School
2008 Fellow

"The Kenny Howard Athletic Training Fellowship provided me the opportunity to hit the ground running in the field of athletic training and secondary education. My time spent at Auburn University as a Kenny Howard Athletic Training Fellow has given me the knowledge and confidence to work with and educate a diverse group of students and athletes. I will always cherish the challenges, successes, and experiences at Auburn University as a Kenny Howard Athletic Training Fellow. I will take these lessons and memories with me forever. War Eagle!"

David Beland, M.Ed., ATC
Health Teacher/Athletic Trainer, Certified
Hoover High School
1998-2000 Fellow

"The Kenny Howard Fellowships ended up being one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Being able to provide Athletic Training Coverage to high schools that would be unable to afford it without the backing of the Fellowship is an amazing opportunity. On a personal level, I know that being a part of the KHF I grew not only as an Athletic Trainer but as a person. I know that it gave me the opportunity to accept hard responsibilities and deal with problems in a way that I would not have before.
The doctors that we were able to work side by side with provided us with another opportunity to learn and get advice when we needed it. I still feel that I could call either one of them and ask advice about an injury that I am uncertain of. This goes for the other Athletic Trainers that are part of the Fellowship while we are. Those bonds are definitely strong and I know that I made lifelong friends during my time with the Kenny Howard Fellowship. As I said before, the most rewarding experience of my life."

Rebecca Jones
2009-2011 Fellow

"I cannot describe what my graduate experience as a Kenny Howard Fellow has meant to me, professionally and personally. More than anything else, I consider it an honor to be the recipient of a fellowship named for such a pioneer in my profession as a whole. Kenny Howard, alongside Dr. Jack Hughston, was someone that my mentors in undergrad always mentioned when discussing the history of and strides made by those in the athletic training/orthopedic field. Through the Fellowship, I was able to experience true independence, with skilled and supportive individuals behind me the entire way. My school assignment couldn’t have been more perfect! It challenged me in ways that I would never imagine in terms of applying the foundation laid for me prior to my arrival in Auburn. The creativity of designing rehab protocols; the opportunity to be an active part of such a close knit community; the resources to increase my knowledge-base; the camaraderie between co-workers, supervisors, and physicians that has built my managerial style to this day and something I treasure immensely; and the chance to study at a university that I have truly loved all of my life. I am thankful every day that I was offered and chose to accept this Fellowship. It has shaped me into who I am today."

Courtney Boswell McQuaker
2000-2002 Fellow

"I am officially not a former Kenny Howard Fellow, as I pursued my degree at Auburn University Montgomery. I attained my Athletic Training Certification via the “Internship Route” that existed prior to 2004. However, during my internship, Chad Abrams was my supervising Athletic Trainer and I attended “Bumps and Bruises” during the early years of the Fellowship. I pursued my clinical observation hours with Jake Shaw, PT, ATC. This eventually led to a part-time position with HPRC and working with Steve Kisor, PT.
It was those Friday nights on the sideline with Chad and Dr. Bob and the hours spent in the clinic under the wings of some of the greatest therapists that I have had the privilege to work with, that has made me what I am today. It was the early Saturday mornings after a long night of travel for an away game; the time spent listening to Dr. Bob educating young minds; seeing the way a team of physicians, trainers, PT’s, coaches, and athlete work together to achieve a common goal; it was listening to the wisdom of one of the founders of sports medicine: Kenny Howard; it was the opportunity to meet Dr. Jack Hughston, before his passing that made even being associated with the Fellowship great. Not only did my experience with Chad and my association with the Kenny Howard Fellowship shape and mold me as an Athletic Trainer, but as a person as well. I will never be unprepared for a game or lacking the equipment that I need to cover an event thanks to Chad. I will continue to grow as a clinician and expand my knowledge base thanks to the clinicians that I was and still am surrounded by. A quote that deeply impacted me as a healthcare provider says, ”As long as you’re green, that means that you are still growing. Once you’ve stopped growing, you are practically rotten.” I might have messed up the quote, but you can’t mistake the meaning or who said it.
Even though I am not officially a Kenny Howard Fellow, I will forever treasure my experience with the Fellowship. I am eternally grateful for being allowed to hang around such a group of people."

Jeff Cotten, PTA, ATC

"I was fortunate enough to get to know KHF crew when I was in high school. I shadowed them, and was treated by them when I was injured. I knew during that time, that I wanted to be apart of the Kenny Howard Fellowship. It is such an amazing organization! They go out to high schools that normally would not have an athletic trainer or any medical coverage, and provide an athletic trainer, free of charge to the school. This is great for the Grad student, who is getting experience on their own, but always has someone close by if they have any questions. It's great for the schools because they have someone there licensed and trained to take care of there athletes. Being apart of KHF was one of the most amazing experiences I've ever been apart of! They provided the foundation of the woman and athletic trainer that I am today and built friendships that I will have for the rest of my life!"

Crystal Rodgers Joiner
2005-2007 Fellow