SCRPA INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

2022 Professional of the Year: TJ Rostin

The SCRPA Professional of the Year nominee must be in the parks and recreation profession at least 15 years and a member of SCRPA for at least five years and professionally certified. This award considers service, leadership, and character.

TJ Rostin started his career with the Isle of Palms Recreation Department then moved to the City of North Charleston in 2004 to be their athletic director. In 2018, he had the opportunity to broaden his career and become a director with the City of Goose Creek. He served there for 3 years and was able to go back “home” to the City of North Charleston where he serves as Director.

TJ has served the South Carolina Recreation and Parks Association in multiple capacities over the last 21 years, including the SC Athletic Programs Branch Chair and the Southern District Vice President. He graduated from the SC LEAD class in 2004 and was elected to be the 73rd president of SCRPA in 2018. TJ has not stopped giving back to our great profession. He continues to serve SCRPA in a very important role as the chair of the SC Leadership and Development (SC LEAD) program and has done so since 2018.

TJ is a team player, through and through. While he has risen through the ranks in our profession, he never forgot where he came from. He never asks someone to do anything he wouldn’t do. TJ is community minded. He’ll work with the community centers, bag sand for hurricanes, help feed volunteers and even help with the quilting program! No job is too large or small for him. TJ is married and has 2 awesome children that he adores.

2022 Young Professional of the Year: Willie Stewart

The SCRPA Young Professional of the Year nominee must be in the parks and recreation profession for at least 3 years and no more than 15 years and a member in good standing of SCRPA and professionally certified. This award considers service, leadership, and character.

Willie Stewart has been with the City of Mauldin for 10 years, currently serving as Assistant Director. He’s also served as Athletic Director, and prior to coming to Mauldin, he worked for Greenville County Parks and Recreation. Willie is currently certified through the National Parks &

Recreation Association as a Parks and Recreation Professional (CPRP). Willie is a “homegrown” product and understands Mauldin and the upstate. He cares and programs for all the youth in his community. He recruits, trains and oversees all the coaches for Mauldin’s Recreation program, even coaching when needed. Willie also coaches high school football for Mauldin High School.

Willie has been very involved within SCRPA. He is a graduate of the SC LEAD Program in 2020. Willie served on the SC Athletic Programs Branch for 8 years and was elected chair in 2019-2020. Willie is a Certified Youth Sports Administrator from the National Alliance for Youth Sports and has served on various SCRPA committees in his “short” tenure.

According to his director, Willie has been a great asset to the City of Mauldin. “His hard work and dedication to the city is outstanding! There is no job that Willie cannot, or will not do! The sky is the limit for this young man.”

Robert L. Reid Lifetime Achievement & Hall of Fame Award: David Bennett

The SCRPA Robert L. Reid Lifetime Achievement and Hall of Fame Award recognizes an individual’s achievement in the parks and recreation community. It can be awarded to a professional or citizen. The individual should have at least twenty years of overall commitment to the parks and recreation community and have made a lasting impression on our great profession.

David Bennett exemplifies the perseverance that is necessary to be a success in the field of parks and recreation and has made significant contributions to CCPRC.

He has been an inspiration to staff and is a cornerstone of the building process. As CCPRC’s Executive Director, he has provided the agency with a successful and manageable growth plan that provides a solid foundation for the future of the agency. Whether in sports, dedication to family, service to community, or professional conduct, David exudes passion and determination. His ability to commit to a plan, willingness to work hard, and positive attitude make him an inspiration to his staff and members of the community. David’s journey through SCRPA has always been based on service and mentoring. He’s been involved in many committees and branches at SCRPA over the past 35 years, and he earned the Young Professional Award and Professional of the Year Award. Like many of SCRPA’s past and current leaders, David has left a valuable imprint on the Association. His involvement in the creation of the SC LEAD program has provided our state with an exceptional program for the future leaders of the Association. In 2004, David served the Association as President, providing valuable leadership and guidance during his tenure.

With all of his professional and civic accomplishments, David’s greatest pride is for his family. He’s supported by his wife Cheryl and his three grown children Austin, Cydney and Dale. David consistently speaks to his CCPRC team about the value of family and encouraged his staff to strike a balance between hard work and time with family and friends.