By
Dakota Wesleyan University's director of athletic training, Randi Christensen, has been honored as the 2024-25 Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Athletic Trainer of the Year.
The prestigious recognition, announced Thursday by the GPAC, highlights Christensen's outstanding contributions and dedication to the profession.
Selected by her peers, Christensen's excellence has earned her the nomination to represent the GPAC for the NAIA Sports Athletic Trainer of the Year, with results to be announced this fall.
"Randi is most deserving of this honor in the GPAC," said GPAC Commissioner Corey Westra. "She is looked to for advice and best practices by our certified athletic trainers in the league and has been a tremendous leader for our athletic training group. We congratulate her on this award and thank her for all she does to go above and beyond for the profession."
Christensen, a resident of White Lake, has been part of the Dakota Wesleyan community since 2005, beginning her journey after earning her bachelor's degree in athletic training from South Dakota State University. She continued her education at DWU, completing her master's degree in 2007.
Beyond her responsibilities with athletic training, Christensen serves as an instructor for the American Heart Association in essential life-saving skills such as first aid, CPR, AED, and Basic Life Support. Additionally, she is instrumental in teaching classes for the university’s exercise science and athletic training programs.
DWU Athletic Director Ross Cimpl praised Christensen’s tireless commitment:
"She goes above and beyond for the programs and athletes that she oversees. Randi works extremely hard to get our athletes back on the field as quickly as possible. She is very well respected on our campus and in the conference. She consistently puts the needs of others before her own and truly 'bleeds blue' for DWU."
Read more here!
