MANHATTAN, Kan. – Nate Hepner, Director of Sports Medicine for Fort Hays State University Athletics, received the John "Doc" Baxter Above & Beyond the Call of Duty Award for 2025 from the Kansas Athletic Trainers' Society (KATS). He was honored at the KATS Symposium in Manhattan as part of a yearly meeting.
 
John "Doc" Baxter served KATS in many capacities through his career and was known to always go above and beyond the expectations of his job, volunteering, and day-to-day activities. In recognition of his lifetime of exceptional service, this award recognizes an athletic trainer in KATS whose actions and activities have gone well beyond what is expected or required within the routine call of duty.
 
Hepner has been at Fort Hays State for eight consecutive years now. He was the Head Athletic Trainer from 2017 to 2023 and then in 2024 became the Director of Sports Medicine. He still serves as the head athletic trainer for the FHSU football team. He graduated with a master's degree from Fort Hays State in 2009 after earning his bachelor's degree at the University of Northern Colorado. Following his education, he spent time at both the University of Northern Colorado and the University of New Haven before returning to Fort Hays State.

KATS John "Doc" Baxter Above and Beyond the Call of Duty Recipients

2018	Morgan Rakestraw
2019	Gary Stevanus
2020	Robin Rivers
2021	Jamie Blackim
2022	Brad Jones
2023	Kristan Todd
2024	Allison Griffin
2025	Nate Hepner