Helmet Tracker announces that Michael Dryer is our first Athletic Equipment Manager’s Association Certification Exam Scholarship winner.
“We are proud to be associated with the AEMA,” said Helmet Tracker co-founder Rich Hardt. “We believe in Equipment Management as a profession and we are glad to award this scholarship to Michael.”
Michael, an equipment manager for the University of Nevada when he took the 2017 exam at the AEMA Convention in Atlanta last month, is one of 65 equipment managers who passed the exam of the 91 who sat for it.
“I’m excited to win this scholarship,” Michael said. “I am grateful to Nevada for making it possible for me to go to AEMA and take the test.”
After six months with Nevada, Michael started a new, full-time job as an Assistant Equipment Manager at Florida International University under Andrew Stern, Head Equipment Manager for Football, who also moved from Nevada.
“FIU hired Coach Butch Davis last spring and he’s a great coach and working for him everything is going good,” Michael said. “We are working long hours to make the equipment room ours and the way we want it.”
Helmet Tracker co-founder Rick Perkins said 10 aspiring equipment managers initially qualified for the scholarship. “We are impressed by the applicants and wish each of them success,” he said. The scholarship reimburses the exam fee and testing materials.
Exam Takes Effort to Pass
This week, AEMA Office Manager Sam Trusner randomly picked Michael’s name out of a helmet containing the names of the scholarship applicants qualified by Helmet Tracker.
“It takes effort to pass the certification exam,” Sam told Helmet Tracker at the AEMA national offices in Illinois. “It’s not rocket science, but you have to study for it to pass.”
The mean score this year was a 74, accounting for the testing adjustment. A score of 70 passes.
“Usually about 30 percent fail and it was no different this year,” Sam said.
Michael said he took it seriously and studied hard for the exam. In the end, it was worth it.
“I spent a lot of time studying for the test. I wanted to pass it so bad,” he said. “Now that I am certified, I can say it—I am a certified equipment manager! I am a professional.”
To read Michael’s story, please visit http://helmettracker.com/meet-michael-dryer-equipment-manager/
To apply for the 2018 Helmet Tracker Scholarship, please visit http://helmettracker.com/aema-scholarship/