July 25, 2012 — In recognition of his professional achievements, teaching, research and service, William E. Prentice has received the Curry School of Education Foundation's 2012 Outstanding Higher Education Faculty Award.

Prentice, an alumnus of the University of Virginia's Curry School of Education, has been a professor in the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill's Department of Exercise and Sport Science and program director of its top-ranked post-professional athletic training education program since 1980.

He received a master of science degree from the University of Delaware and in 1980 was the first student to receive a doctorate of philosophy degree in the field of sports medicine and applied physiology from Curry.

"Much of Bill's teaching takes place outside the traditional classroom setting, and he is regularly seen working with students in the athletic training room, where he can demonstrate the application or theories presented in his textbooks," said Kevin Guskiewicz, Kenan Distinguished Professor and Chair at UNC. "I can attest to his…excellent reputation as one of our best teachers."

Prentice served as the athletic trainer for the UNC women's soccer program for 26 years. He has written nine textbooks and published more than 80 journal articles and abstracts.

He has received numerous awards from the National Athletic Trainers Association, including the Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award in 1999; the Sayers "Bud" Miller Distinguished Athletic Training Educator Award in 1997; and the Educational Multimedia Committee Videotape Production Award in 1997. In 2004, Prentice was inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame. In 2006, the NATA established the William E. Prentice Doctoral Scholarship that is now presented annually in his name. Prentice was named in the inaugural class as an NATA Fellow in 2008.

Prentice will receive his award at a Curry School of Education dinner on Oct. 25.