Following three years of intentional instruction, training, guidance and collaboration spearheaded by strength and conditioning head coach Walter Prater, the Ellison athletic program earned the School of Distinction honor from the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
“I am extremely grateful that I can represent my family, Ellison High School, Killeen ISD and the great state of Texas with this historic and global honor,” Prater said. “This moment serves as fuel to my fire to pursue more achievements of excellence that positively influence and benefit those around me.”
According to the NSCA, the School of Distinction program recognizes schools that demonstrate the highest standards in strength and conditioning. The recognition honors strength and conditioning programs that meet stringent criteria in four categories: program supervision, administration, education and facility management.
Over the three-year span, Prater led a focused process that required the completion of a series of documented and certified activities, including orientation and safety meetings, coaching and educational outreach, and educational and curriculum support, among other components.
“As a strength and conditioning coach, I pride myself on not only providing an advanced level of expertise and education to improve student performance, but also pushing myself to get one percent better daily,” Prater said. “I have always believed that as long as I set the standard of hard work by being a lifelong learner, having a growth mindset and taking all of the actions that I can to inspire my student-athletes, their parents and their coaches.”
Prater said the leadership of the Eagles’ coaching staff and the determination of the program’s student-athletes helped drive sustained success throughout the multi-year process.
“The student-athletes consistently give their greatest effort to improve daily, and the coaches offer immense dedication to their craft and are supportive of ways to improve their athletes and their overall sport program,” Prater said. “This combination of personnel is great to work with to reach the goal of advancing KISD athletics.”
Prater received a certificate to mark the honor and a commemorative banner will hang in Ellison’s gym. The School of Distinction designation runs through 2028.
Ellison is the second KISD athletic program to be recognized by the NSCA since 2023. That year, Killeen High received what was known then as the Strength of America Award. The NSCA rebranded that honor in 2025 as the School of Distinction.