During the annual Massachusetts Secondary Schools Athletic Directors Association (MSSADA) conference in Cape Cod in late March, HPS Athletic Director Melanie Martin took home a well-earned award: District 1 Athletic Director of The Year.
MSSADA, the professional organization for Massachusetts high school athletic directors, honors nine members each year with this prestigious title. The award is peer-recognized, meaning that Ms. Martin was nominated and chosen by her fellow athletic directors based in Western Massachusetts.
“I’m more of a behind-the-scenes person,” said Ms. Martin, “but it’s nice to be recognized, especially by my peers here in District 1.”
“Mel has been a part of the HPS team for a long time,” said HHS North Principal Lori McKenna, “She is dedicated to all of our students, and you can see the joy she has when she is cheering on our teams and supporting athletes in a variety of ways. I am proud that she has received this well-deserved honor.”
Ms. Martin came to HPS in 1993 as a part-time clinical athletic trainer. Over the years, she served as a physical education teacher, health teacher, and full-time athletic trainer before becoming athletic director in 2012. As HPS athletic director, she oversees 37 teams across 15 sports.
During her tenure in Holyoke, Ms. Martin has left her mark in many ways. Chief among her accomplishments, she said, is developing and launching Holyoke’s unified sports teams. The co-ed unified track and basketball teams are for students of all abilities, including those with intellectual disabilities, from Holyoke High School’s three campuses as well as Transitions Academy. She started the programs in Holyoke in 2017, and helped increase the popularity of such teams across the region. She also serves on numerous athletics boards and committees, including the MIAA Unified Sports Committee, MIAA Sports Medicine Committee, and several PVIAC/WMass commitees.
This is Ms. Martin’s fifth award from MSSADA, following the District Ted Damko Award in 2016, District Athletic Director of the Year in 2021, District Award of Merit in 2022, and the District and State Distinguished Service Award in 2023.