SCHOLARSHIPS/AWARDS
Manny Pacillas Award
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2022

Ben Snyder, DAT, ATC, LAT

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Ben Snyder, a Nebraska native, has spent his academic career and professional career in Athletic Training. Graduating first from Iowa Western CC with his Associate degree in Athletic Training, he transferred to Missouri Valley College to earn his Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training. Upon graduating in 2013, Ben became a Certified Athletic Trainer and began his career. His career started at the University of Texas at El Paso as a graduate assistant athletic trainer under Dawn Hearn. During his time at UTEP, Ben assisted with football and oversaw the women's golf team. In 2015 he graduated from UTEP with his Master of Arts degree in Educational Leadership and began working at Anthony High School.

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During his time as the Head Athletic Trainer at Anthony High school, Ben oversaw the growth and development of the high school athletic training program, culminating in the students winning a sports medicine national championship in 2018. Ben left Anthony after three years and went on to become the sports medicine instructor at the Center for Career and Technology (CCTE) in EPISD, his current position. During his time at CCTE, he has seen the sports medicine program grow into one of the best in the region and has taught numerous students pursuing athletic training and other health care professions. Ben has had much success training and educating students in sports medicine with several of his students qualifying for state HOSA in sports medicine and continued success at the national level. Currently, he is working on his Doctorate in Athletic Training from A.T. Still University as well as the research topic "Border city barriers in concussion care for the secondary athlete" and will complete this degree in December of 2022. 

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Ben is also responsible for the revival and creation of the SCATA Student Association. Now in its 2nd full year of existence, the association has continued to grow and has begun expanding to include college students into the association. The goal is to continue to grow the association and have it recognized by SWATA and TSATA. Ben, married to 2020 Manny Pacillas award winner Sadie Snyder, lives in El Paso with their daughter Scarlett. Both continue to promote the Athletic Training profession and impact student lives.  

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2018

Lindsay Parrish, ATC, LAT

2017

Bernadette Nunez, MS, LAT

2016

Linda Hayes, ATC, LAT

2014

Emilio Araujo, ATC, LAT

2013

Liana Armijo, ATC, LAT

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2020

Sadie Snyder, LAT

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Sadie Snyder (Smith) is Council Bluffs, IA native. After graduating high school she went to Northwest Missouri State University where she was an undecided major. After the first year she decided to move back home and go to Iowa Western CC and major in athletic training. At IWCC is where she met her now husband Ben Snyder. After 3 years she graduated with an Associates in Science in Athletic training from IWCC in 2011. Both Ben and Sadie moved to Marshall, Mo and started school at Missouri Valley College.

After 2 years then graduated with a bachelor’s of science in athletic training in 2013. After graduation, Ben moved to El Paso to start his Graduate position at UTEP in July of 2013 and for a year they lived apart. When Ben proposed in October 2013 she then decided she would work towards moving to El Paso. In 2014, she moved to El Paso and obtained her Texas Athletic training license and started working at El Paso CC as the head athletic trainer. In 2015, she was married to Ben Snyder in Omaha, NE. In 2016 she decided to leave EPCC and work for EPISD at Irvin High school and currently still employed there. Sadie and Ben have a beautiful daughter Scarlett born in October 2018. 

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