Makenna (McAteer) Vacek
Class of 2013
Posted on July 31, 2023
When Makenna was growing up, she was always interested in science and healthcare. Her mom was a paramedic for a period of time, which further increased her interest in the healthcare field. After graduating from Heritage, Makenna went on to the University of Pittsburgh. “I wasn’t aware of athletic training as a career option until I had been in college for a year,” said Makenna. “Athletic training seemed like a more exciting job – being on the sidelines and traveling with sports teams – versus being in an office all day.” Makenna was recently named Athletic Trainer of the Year for the 2022-2023 academic year.
“Though I was unsure that I would end up where I am today, HCS helped prepare me academically for the coursework,” Makenna said. She took several AP classes while at Heritage, which prepared her with a strong knowledge base and helped make the rigor of college coursework less overwhelming. She earned her bachelor’s degree in athletic training from the University of Pittsburgh and a master’s degree in exercise science from Georgia State University (GSU). “I love working with the same individuals day in and day out. Building rapport, helping them grow and develop over time and being able to see that during their college careers. Athletics can be a demanding career but I love my athletes and coworkers who make it a lot of fun.”
Makenna developed an interest in mental health through experiences she had while working as a graduate assistant and is currently working towards her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling at GSU. She also serves as an athletic trainer and mental health resource coordinator at the school. “I love my current role of advocating for change within athletics in mental health care, education and resources for student athletes,” she said.
When describing what she is most proud of, Makenna said that it was leaving GSU for a few years and then going back. “I was able to make larger impacts faster since I knew the system and people in it already. I was happy to be able to immediately be in the role of mental health resource coordinator, which allowed me to advocate for our athletes faster. I set up several helpful programs and speakers and worked to connect individuals with counseling as needed and saw an increase in resource utilization.”