The UIS athletic department has announced the addition of Samantha Fuentes as an assistant athletic trainer. Fuentes will work primarily with the Prairie Stars men's soccer, men's basketball, and cheerleading teams.

"We are excited for Samantha to join our Sports Medicine staff," said head athletic trainer Chris Camburn. "She brings with her a broad range of experiences as a young professional and has a service-oriented mindset that will help our department meet the needs of our student-athletes."

Fuentes recently earned her Master of Science in Athletic Training from Colorado State University-Pueblo, completing clinical rotations in a variety of sports including football, men's and women's basketball, and women's soccer during her education. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with a concentration in Exercise Science from Sonoma State University.

Her professional strengths include injury evaluation and emergency care, game and practice preparation, rehabilitation assistance, and effective communication with student-athletes and staff.

Fuentes joins the UIS Sports Medicine staff, led by head athletic trainer Chris Camburn, along with assistant athletic trainers Abby Kain and Ryan Margold.