Lawrenceville Celebrates Faculty Value: Initiative

Lawrenceville faculty members have honored colleagues who embody the values that define the School community — commitment, courage, enthusiasm, friendship, honesty, initiative, kindness, leadership, loyalty, perseverance, responsibility, and thoughtfulness. These values guide daily work in the classroom, Houses, and programs across campus, shaping a culture built on shared purpose.

Athletic Trainer Andrew Kukla was recognized with the honor, presented to a faculty member who “has the quality of being able to see what needs to be done and doing it without being told. It is through initiative that a person recognizes a need or sees an opportunity and takes action to make change or create new ideas to improve our collective experience,” reads the award description.

Kukla described the recognition as “humbling, but definitely meaningful and, above all, motivating.” He continued, “When you’re recognized in front of your colleagues and peers, it makes you want to do more. It’s a reminder that if you act, the community notices, and that even small efforts can make a difference.”

As Lawrenceville’s lead clinician for concussion management, Kukla has led significant advances in how the School approaches the diagnosis and treatment of head injuries. Working closely with former medical director Dr. Chris Renjilian, who came to Lawrenceville from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), Kukla helped reevaluate the School’s existing concussion program and identify opportunities for improvement.

“I really wanted to see what CHOP was doing,” Kukla explained. “There are clinicians there doing cutting-edge work in managing concussions in adolescents. Through Dr. Renjilian’s connections, all of our athletic trainers were able to make rounds with their physicians, observe their methods, and bring that expertise back to our community.”

Kukla and his colleagues went on to shift Lawrenceville’s program from a computer-based model to a clinician-centered approach that focuses on individualized assessments. “Every injury is unique,” he said. “There’s no cookie-cutter formula for recovery. We rely on our visual-vestibular exams — balance, coordination, and eye movement tests — to evaluate students one-on-one, track their progress, and tailor rehabilitation to their needs.”

Building on this foundation, Kukla pursued certification in vestibular rehabilitation therapy, an advanced program that helps students recover from lingering symptoms and safely return to play. “Being able to bring those skills back to campus and see the benefits firsthand has been really rewarding,” he said. Kukla holds three undergraduate degrees, in health science, liberal studies, and sports medicine, from Clarion University, as well as a master’s in health education from Penn State with a concentration in biomechanics and kinesiology. 

A typical day for Kukla and his sports medicine team begins early, preparing facilities, updating progress notes, and coordinating with coaches and outside clinicians. From consultation period through late afternoon, the athletic training room fills with student-athletes seeking evaluation, treatment, or reassurance. “We sometimes get students at their lowest point,” Kukla said. “They’re injured, they can’t participate in what they love. But we also get to guide them through recovery and see them return stronger. That progression, start to finish, is the best part of the job.”

For Kukla, initiative is as much a mindset as a skill. “It’s not about having all the right answers,” he reflected. “It’s about taking the first step. That’s what I try to model for my students and patients: See a need, take that first step, and move forward from there.”

For more information, contact Lisa M. Gillard H'17, director of public relations, at lgillard@lawrenceville.org.