Hoopeston Regional Health Center Partners with HAHS
HOOPESTON, IL (September 9, 2009) – Injuries are very common for student athletes at all levels of competition. This is why schools are eager to have a qualified Athletic Trainer on hand to help prevent injuries and rehabilitate students when an injury occurs. For several years Hoopeston Area High School was able have an athletic trainer on hand for select sporting events and practices, through a program with Iroquois Memorial Hospital.
This program provided many trainers to the Hoopeston Area High School athletic department, but one trainer stood out above the rest. Elissa Hooper, has been one of the trainers coming to HAHS for five years now; and when her spot as the HA Athletic Trainer was at risk the Hoopeston Regional Health Center stepped in.
Elissa grew up in the Springfield, IL area for most of her life. She graduated from Palmyra Northwestern High School, in Palymra, IL before going on to earn her Bachelors Degree in Atheltic Training from Anderson University in 2003. After earning her Bachelors Degree she then passed the NATA Board Certification Test to become a Certified Athletic Trainer. Her first place of employment was Anderson University where she served as a part-time trainer until July of 2004 when she moved to Watseka, IL to become a part of the Iroquois Memorial Hospital Out-Patient Rehabilitation department; all the while covering various high school athletic teams.
Her main schools during her tenure at Iroquois Memorial included Hoopeston Area, Milford, and other Iroquois County schools; however, the students at Hoopeston Area High School grew to know her as their trainer. Then when the school was in danger of losing its athletic trainer because of problems at Iroquois Memorial Hospital, the Hoopeston Regional Health Center decided it was time to help the student athletes keep their trainer. In June of 2009 the administration and board of the HRHC decided to provide HAHS with everything needed to keep Elissa at the Hoopeston Area High School as their full-time Certified Athletic Trainer.
And this has not gone unnoticed by the students. Because Elissa has been an integral part of the HA athletic program for so many years, students are now happy to see her five days a week and even some Saturdays; instead of the few days a week they saw her before. They have access to her at almost every sporting event, and even have her cell phone number in case of emergencies. She is now capable of taking care of injuries more thoroughly and effectively; something that has been greatly needed by the student athletes at HAHS.
Elissa has been an important part of the HA athletic program, and of the community, and the HRHC was happy to ensure that she be around for a little longer. Elissa now lives in Rossville, IL with her husband of two years, Jon. They plan to stick around for a while, so that Elissa may continue to help the student athletes of HAHS.
For more information on Elissa email her at Elissa.hooper@hoopestoncmh.org or for questions on any other HRHC department please contact Liz Leigh at Elizabeth.leigh@hoopestoncmh.org or at 217-283-5531 ex. 286.
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