Rye High School graduate gives back to athletic training program she helped start

The Rye High School athletic training program debuted its "Intro to Athletic Training" course this past school year, but instructor Kortney Sorensen said the program might never have existed without recent graduate Amelia Burbidge.

Burbidge approached Sorensen with a desire to start an athletic training program at the school three years ago. Before graduating as Rye's valedictorian this May, Burbidge chose to direct a $500 donation to the program she helped start.

The donation was made through the San Isabel Electric Powered-Up scholarship — a $5,000 award that allows recipients to direct an additional $500 to a school program of their choosing.

"For the past two years, I have got to work with (Sorensen) as a sports medicine student aide ... it's become a much more popular program at Rye — which I am proud of," Burbidge said.

Sorensen has degrees from Colorado State University Pueblo in both athletic training and physical education. Students in her athletic training program at Rye obtain CPR, AED and first-aid certifications. They learn about anatomy and physiology, common sports injuries and what the rehabbing process looks like. Students also get to be on the sidelines with Sorensen during Rye athletic events.

When the athletic training program started as an after-school activity, Burbidge and fellow 2023 graduate Kayla Pollock were the only two students participating. This year, about 10 to 12 students were in the classroom practicing athletic training on any given school day.

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"I've got two or three kids who have approached me and are seriously considering it as a career choice ... Even if they don't go the (athletic training) route — they go the paramedic route or the doctor route like Amelia has decided to go — just having the basis of medical experience is huge for them," Sorensen said.

Burbidge also has participated in the Student to Employment Program (STEP) at Parkview Medical Center. She will be attending the University of New England to participate in a seven-year track program, studying medical biology for three years before beginning medical school. A former attendee of Haaf Elementary and the Connect Charter School, Burbidge hopes to work in Pueblo as an orthopedic surgeon after graduating college.

In addition to her participation in the athletic training program, Burbidge also was student body president, National Honor Society president and Technology Student Association president during her time at Rye High School. She also was a member of the Knowledge Bowl team and a manager for several sports.

"I didn't previously know the value of having a strong athletic training program, and even my freshman year of high school, I wasn't sure of what that looked like," Burbidge said. "Having this program allows athletes to get a better idea of what goes on behind the scenes ... Even for students who are aren't athletes, it helps to see that process and it gives them a way to be involved in sporting events where they may have not been before."

Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@gannett.com.

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