Student Trainers Gain Experience and Serve the Goshen College Community

At Goshen College, dozens of student-athletes pass through the training room at the Recreation Fitness Center each day for icing, taping, stretching and treatment—but a dedicated group of students is there for something more.

They’re not just receiving care; they’re preparing for futures as healthcare professionals. These student trainers, typically majoring in kinesiology or exercise science, work under the guidance of Head Athletic Trainer Jaelyn Rufenacht.

“The value of a student trainer is that they can gain hands-on experience and help with the day-to-day duties of the athletic training room,” Rufenacht said. “They are able to witness injuries, see the evaluation, treatments and eventual return to play of the athletes. They are able to store this experience away to benefit them later in grad school or when they have jobs.”

Senior exercise science major Anthony Roberts has already begun applying what he’s learned, training a variety of clients in the community.

“Right now, I train senior-level clients, and I train one middle-aged lady… One gentleman is retired and the working-class lady works long hours, so I utilize a lot of flexibility between the two of them as their schedules are much different,” Roberts said.

Rufenacht knows firsthand how transformative mentorship and real-world experience can be.

“I wanted to be an athletic trainer because I had a really good one at my junior college,” she shared.

After earning her degree at Goshen College and completing graduate studies in Indianapolis—where she trained at eight clinical sites—she joined Beacon Health System before returning to GC.

“From there I was placed at GC and spent two years as the assistant athletic trainer here,” she said. “Then in 2022 the head job opened up and I applied. I have been the head athletic trainer since then.”

At GC, athletic training is more than a program—it’s a vocation. The Student Trainer Program blends clinical skill-building with compassion, service and community engagement, shaping future leaders who learn not only to care for others but to do so with empathy and purpose.

Check out the full story here!