AMHERST, N.Y. – Daemen College’s athletic training graduates have for the fifth consecutive year achieved a 100 percent first-time pass rate on the rigorous National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Board of Certification exam, a rate that far surpasses the national average of 83 percent.

“The impressive success of our 2017 athletic training graduates continues the high level of performance achieved by previous classes on the national certification exam,” said Dr. Michael Brogan, vice president for academic affairs and dean of students. “Attaining this pass rate speaks to the academic strength, quality of our faculty, and hard work of our talented students to develop the advanced competencies needed for the athletic training profession.”

“For No Good Reason,” a novel from decorated combat veteran Steve Banko, is the latest release from No Frills Buffalo publishing.

Banko served 16 months in combat in Vietnam where he was wounded six times. His awards for heroism included the Silver Star, the nation’s third highest decoration for valor, and four Purple Hearts. He has spent more than two decades as a speechwriter and professional communicator and has also spoken to audiences across the country on the issues of war and peace. His nonfiction work has been included in several anthologies and periodicals. “For No Good Reason” is his first novel.

Banko’s speech focusing on post-traumatic stress among combat veterans received the Grand Prize Award from the Cicero Foundation for the best speech of 2010. He currently resides with his wife, Shirley, in South Buffalo and North Ft. Myers, Fla.