James Scifers, professor of athletic training at Western Carolina University, received the North Carolina Athletic Trainers’ Association Educator of the Year Award for 2014.

The award is North Carolina’s most prestigious honor for teaching in the athletic training profession, said Jill Manners, director of WCU’s athletic training program, who called Scifers “a true mentor” to his students, even long after they have graduated from the program and gone on to successful careers of their own.

“He has dedicated his life to the education of athletic-training students and always challenges them — and everyone he works with — to be better,” said Manners. “He is driven to promote the profession and his enthusiasm is contagious.”