Cooper Named Recipient of the NCS4 Cornerstone Award

Mon, 07/22/2024 - 09:27am | By: Anthony Palazzolo

Dr. Walter Cooper was awarded the second-ever Cornerstone Award at the NCS⁴ 15^th Annual National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition Award Luncheon held in Phoenix on July 10. The Awards Luncheon was sponsored by Evolv Technology, which provides weapons detection systems for security screening.

The Cornerstone Award recognizes individuals who have played an integral role in the foundation of the NCS⁴ and/or provided leadership in the development and growth of NCS⁴ programs. “Walter is one of the original founders of NCS⁴and its training program,” said Dr. Stacey Hall, NCS⁴ Executive Director and Professor of Sport Management. “He helped write the first grant the Center was awarded from FEMA to develop risk management training for college safety and security teams, and he served as the Center’s first-ever Director of Training. Walter exemplified all the qualities of a servant leader and humble leader. We thank him for advocating for the Center since its inception. He undoubtedly played an impactful role in where the Center stands today.”

Walter has held many leadership positions during his decades of service in higher education, such as Professor, Department Chair, and Dean. A Professor Emeritus at the University of Southern Mississippi, Walter was the NCS⁴Director of Training during the Center’s formative years, playing an integral role in the creation of NCS⁴ and the growth of its training program. Walter currently serves as the Director of the Interscholastic Athletics Administration Program at William Carey University, which he developed in 2014. He continues to consult with public and private sector industries on quality management training.

“I was quite surprised, honored, and appreciative to receive this award,” said Dr. Walter Cooper, Director of the Interscholastic Athletics Administration Program at William Carey University. It’s an honor to have been a part of the formative years of NCS⁴. I’m very proud of the work that our team, including Ret. FBI Agent Jim McGee did to help lay the foundation for what NCS⁴ is today under the leadership of Dr. Stacey Hall and Lauren Cranford, both of whom I am very appreciative of. Being able to attend the conference gave me the opportunity to visit with people who were a part of NCS⁴ from the very beginning.

Planning for the 2025 Annual Conference is underway, with details to be released later this year. The event will be held July 1-3, 2025, at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa in San Antonio, Texas.

The NCS⁴ will host the National Marathon and Endurance Events Safety and Security Forum on December 3-4, 2024, at the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront in Virginia Beach, Va., and the National Intercollegiate Athletics Safety and Security Forum on January 28-29, 2025, at Duke University in Durham, N.C. Details will be released in the coming weeks.

About NCS⁴:
Established in 2006, the NCS⁴ is the nation's only academic center devoted to the study and practice of sports safety and security. The NCS⁴ is partially underwritten by grants from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The NCS⁴mission focuses on three key pillars – Training and Education, Research, and Outreach. For more information about NCS⁴, call 601.266.6183.