NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Carson-Newman Associate Director of Sports Medicine Becky Cate has been honored with the Tennessee Athletic Trainers' Society Backbone Award at the organization's annual meeting and symposium Sunday.

The Backbone Award is given to that person whose commitment and enthusiasm exemplifies the unselfish loyalty to their respective programs, staff and athletes.

"She's a prototypical Carson-Newman employee," Carson-Newman Director of Sports Medicine Mike Van Bruggen said.  "She loves the Lord, working at Carson-Newman and taking care of her student athletes.  She works diligently to expand horizons and treat the whole person and not just the physical ailment.  She frequently does the little things that often go unnoticed, but without them, our program would collapse.  That's why she's so deserving of this honor."

Cate, in her fourth year at Carson-Newman, receives the honor for the first time in her career.  She is also the first honoree from Carson-Newman to receive the Backbone Award.

Carson-Newman Medical Director and orthopedist Matt Rappe was named Sportsmedicine Person of the Year by TATS in 2013. Van Bruggen garnered the organization's Eugene Smith/Mickey O'Brien College Athletic Trainer Award in 2009.