Some would say that student trainers are at the back of the line as far as importance in an athletic program. Not the case at Dickinson High School and for senior Michelle Butler.

The four-year veteran has been awarded the Exemplary Student Athletic Trainer award by the Greater Houston Area Trainers Society. Butler received her award Saturday at the annual SAT workshop held at Pasadena Memorial High School. It is awarded to a deserving student for distinguished service to athletic training and their community. To be considered for the award, they must be nominated by one of their supervising Athletic Trainers, compose an essay about why they are deserving, must be going into the field of Athletic Training or another medical field, and provide their transcript and resume as well as other letters of recommendation.

DHS Trainer Jenna Tubbs nominated Butler because of her hard work the past four years and her selfless dedication for learning new rehab techniques and being available whenever needed.

"We trusted her to get the job done every single time she was here from the time she started," Tubbs said. "She was always willing to do whatever we needed and as she got older we trusted her to help players do exercises and do their rehab with them. We couldn't just trust anybody to do that."

Butler was a cheerleader in seventh and eighth grade, but came out to try out for the student trainers program during spring football of her eighth grade year. She said she never wanted to be a cheerleader again.

"I want to go into the field of medicine in college next year, maybe even surgery, because that is very interesting to me," Butler said. "I'm very excited they chose me for this award. I didn't expect it, but it's pretty neat that I got it."

"Michelle was always eager," Tubbs said. "She was eager to learn every time I wanted to show her how to tape or show her an ACL tear or just whatever it was. She was very interested. Not every student trainer will do that. Some care nothing about medicine or therapy. They are just here to fill their time and that's OK, but when they really are interested in trainer stuff and not just being a waterbody, then that is pretty special."

Butler hopes to attend either Texas Tech or Texas Christian University in the fall. She said she almost didn't take her Texas Tech visit over the Thanksgiving holidays because the Gators were still in the playoffs and she didn't want to have to miss practice.

"That is the kind of dedication we have had from her all four years of her high school career," Tubbs said. "We have to make her go home if she is sick. We are very proud of her and she will be missed a lot next year.