Tonia Bruins Gruppen, Class of 1998

My name is Tonia Bruins Gruppen and I was born and raised in Zeeland, Michigan - a small town about ten minutes east of Holland. I graduated from Zeeland High School in 1994. While in high school I was a three-sport athlete, participating in swimming, volleyball, and softball. It was during this time that I was introduced to Hope athletic training program graduate Kay Lynn Albers Beltman and the profession of athletic training. Kay Lynn treated my injuries but also took the time to answer my questions about athletic training and the program at Hope College. I began the athletic training program at Hope College in the fall of 1994. While at Hope I had the opportunity to work as a student athletic trainer with men's and women's swimming, men's soccer, men's basketball, softball, football, and volleyball. I also participated in internships at the Holland Community Hospital Sports Medicine Clinic, Lakewood Family Medicine, and Zeeland High School. During the summers of 1997 and 1998 I worked as a student athletic trainer with the sports camps at the University of Notre Dame. I also had an internship at Lakeshore Athletic Club as part of my second major in exercise science. I graduated in 1998 with majors in athletic training and exercise science. My graduating class was the first to be recognized from Hope's CAAHEP accredited athletic training program. After I graduated from Hope I attended graduate school at Indiana University. During my first semester I was a graduate assistant Rebound Sports Medicine Clinic. During the second semester I was a graduate assistant athletic trainer for IU's swimming and diving teams. I graduated with my MS from Indiana in June, 1999. In August 1999 I was hired as an assistant athletic trainer at the University of Notre Dame. My primary responsibilities are with the swimming teams, the women's tennis team, and the women's rowing team. My hobbies include running, walking, reading, boating, going to the beach, water skiing, and many other outdoor activities. Being from the greater Holland area, I had always been aware of Hope College and the qualities it had as a small college. It wasn't until I was a student there that I realized what an excellent athletic training program it had. Because of the small size of the program, I was given many responsibilities and opportunities during my four years as an athletic training student. During these four years, I'm happy to say, I also formed a lasting friendship with Dr. Rich Ray.

(Editor's Note: Tonia left her position as assistant athletic trainer at the University of Notre Dame in 2001 to return to the Holland area, where she now serves as an assistant athletic trainer at both Hope College and Zeeland High School.)

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