The Valley Athletic Trainers Association was founded in 2001 by a group of athletic trainers, who saw the need for a professional organization in the Rio Grande Valley. Since that time VATA has grown in to an organization with more than 100 members. It provides continuing education credit through the South Padre Athletic Training Seminar, a CEU Lecture Series, and a Student Trainer Workshop. VATA also provides assistance to student athletic trainers by awarding up to four $1000 scholarships to qualified seniors.

In the years since its inception, VATA has become more and more involved in local community service. Whether manning first aid stations for the Vannie Cook Ride for Life, or a water station for the Edinburg 10K, giving back to the community is a big part of our mission. One of our most successful endeavours is the Fill the Helmet Drive benefitting the Gridiron Heroes Spinal Cord Injury Foundation. Since its beginning, VATA members and their students have raised more than $40,000 by collecting money at football playoff games. The Valley Athletic Trainers Association was the first regional association in Texas to do a fundraiser of this type.

The mission of the Valley Athletic Trainers Association is:

• To promote the profession of Athletic Training in the Rio Grande Valley, and support our member's efforts to provide appropriate quality services to their patients and student athletes.

• To provide continuing education and training for our members, in order to enhance the quality of the services they provide to their patients and student athletes.

• To provide a professional forum for our members to exchange ideas and methods for the practice of Athletic Training.