BOC Recap of the 76th NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo in Orlando

From June 25-26, the BOC exhibited at the 75th National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Clinical Symposia & AT Expo in Orlando. The BOC staff were there to connect with convention attendees at the BOC booth and answer questions. Prizes were awarded to visitors who participated in the booth drawing. Congratulations to our winners! Thank you to all who stopped by the BOC booth.

On June 26, the BOC Board of Directors and staff hosted a reception to honor BOC volunteers and to present volunteer service awards. Congratulations to our 2025 winners:

• Mike Carroll MEd, LAT, ATC – Dan Libera Service Award
• Joe Lueken, MS, LAT, ATC – Paul Grace BOC Leadership Award

Click here to learn more about the 2025 volunteer service awards winners.

Carroll was present to accept his award. Lueken was not in attendance and will be honored at the BOC headquarters in Omaha during the next Exam Development Committee meeting.

During the volunteer reception, the BOC presented a very special honor — the BOC Visionary Emeritus Award — recognizing exceptional leadership, unwavering dedication, and lasting impact on the athletic training profession. Congratulations to our winner:

• Lindsy McLean, AT Ret – BOC Visionary Emeritus Award

McLean was present to receive his award.

Often called the father of certification, McLean saw what the profession needed before most realized it. In the late 1960s, when questions about standards and qualifications began to surface, McLean stepped forward — not for recognition, but because it was the right thing to do.

He didn’t just advocate for credentialing — he built it. He became the first chair of the Certification Committee and helped lay the groundwork for the national certification exam we know today. From that foundation grew a system of state licensure and national recognition that protects the public and our profession’s integrity. Simply put: every Athletic Trainer practicing today owes something to the vision and action McLean set in motion.

He was a pioneer, a tireless advocate and a mentor to generations. From San Jose State to the University of Michigan, to the 49ers and the 1968 Winter Olympics, Lindsy never stopped championing athletic training and its future.

Whether he was creating the AT Retired credential to honor the careers of veteran professionals or mentoring students who would become leaders in their own right, McLean led with humility, conviction, and clarity of purpose. He never chased accolades — only progress.

McLean is not just a historical figure, but a man whose work still shapes every corner of our profession. Please join us in recognizing McLean – a trailblazer whose legacy continues to elevate us all – as the recipient of this very special honor.

BOC Booth Drawing Winners

BOC Plaque Winners

Anthony Silva

Emma Johnson

BOC Certificate Winners

Claude McCants

Evan Bader

Self-Assessment Exam Winners

Taylor Hash

Latya Hurt