Smith Named Collegiate Athletic Trainer of the Year
Stephanie L. Smith, LAT, ATC, with Hattiesburg Clinic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, has been named the 2024-25 Collegiate Athletic Trainer of the Year by the Mississippi Athletic Trainers Association (MATA).
The award is presented annually to an outstanding athletic trainer working in a collegiate setting in Mississippi. Honorees are nominated by fellow athletic trainers in the state and selected by the MATA executive board. Smith currently serves as head athletic trainer at Jones College in Ellisville, Miss., where she plays a key role in the care and support of student-athletes.
The Collegiate Athletic Trainer of the Year award recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional service and commitment to both their athletes and the profession. According to the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA), this includes excellence in leadership, volunteerism, advocacy and professional achievement – qualities Smith has consistently demonstrated throughout her career.
Smith was honored during the MATA Honors and Awards Banquet, held at the IP Hotel and Casino in Biloxi, Miss., on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, as part of the association’s annual conference.
“Receiving the Mississippi Athletic Trainer’s Association Collegiate Athletic Trainer of the Year award is an honor,” Smith said. “There are some phenomenal athletic trainers in the state of Mississippi. I am thankful for Hattiesburg Clinic and Jones College for providing the opportunity to care for our student athletes. It’s been my dream job since I was an athletic training student.”
Hattiesburg Clinic congratulates Ms. Smith on this well-deserved recognition and celebrates her continued commitment to the health and success of student-athletes across Mississippi.
###
About Hattiesburg Clinic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine:
Through a multi-specialty, team-oriented and personalized approach, Hattiesburg Clinic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine works to get you back on your feet and back to the life you love to live.
At our Hattiesburg Clinic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine location, we offer comprehensive services, including primary care, sports medicine, orthopaedic surgery and physical therapy. Additionally, our facility includes a connected 14,310-square-foot indoor sports performance center and a variety of training systems.
About Hattiesburg Clinic:
Hattiesburg Clinic is Mississippi’s largest privately-owned, multispecialty clinic. Founded in 1963, Hattiesburg Clinic has expanded to include over 450 physicians and providers, along with 2,500 employees, serving patients across more than 17 counties in Mississippi. Hattiesburg Clinic is committed to being the health care provider of choice in the communities we serve.