The Mississippi Recreation and Park Association named Starkville Parks and Recreation Sports Coordinator William Pochop this year’s recipient of the MRPA Recreational Professional of the Year Award at its most recent conference.
The award is the organization’s highest professional honor and recognizes the contributions of outstanding recreation professionals in the state.
To win, a person must be a MRPA member who has a “major responsibility for the conduct, supervision or administration of recreation programs and services in any setting, in the academic preparation of professionals or in research in the leisure service profession,” according to the MRPA website.
“It’s exciting for me, but it’s definitely a positive step for Starkville Parks,” he said. “(The department) has been under scrutiny, but in reality we have a well-qualified staff. I wouldn’t have been able to receive this award without the help of staff and coworkers.”
Pochop took over the job in February 2013. Since then, he said, more sports tournaments have shown a constant desire to have their events hosted in Starkville.
“From March or April to the end of September and into October, we’re booked every weekend. Starkville is a great place where people obviously want to come, and they want to be here for tournament sports,” he said. “Our existing facilities are also a strength. We have a lot of potential for the future with what we have right now.”
SPR Director Herman Peters credited Pochop for his award, saying having an employee receive the accolade was an honor for the department as a whole.
“William has done an excellent job as the sports coordinator. It is encouraging to see that his peers from around the state recognize the value of his work in Starkville,” said Mayor Parker Wiseman.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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