SportsTurf provides current, practical and technical content on issues relevant to sports turf managers, including facilities managers. Most readers are athletic field managers from the professional level through parks and recreation, universities.
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/107950
University Intercollegiate Athletics; George Toma "Golden Rake" Award - Michael Boettcher, Milwaukee Brewers; Dr. William H. Daniel Award - Elizabeth Guertal, PhD, Auburn University; and Harry C. Gill Memorial Award – Richard Moffitt, Moffitt & Associates, LLC. PRESIDENT'S AWARD FOR LEADERSHIP STMA President Dr. Mike Goatley said, "This year we have two very deserving recipients of this award. The basis of good leadership is honorable character and selfless service, and these two award winners have gone far above typical service to STMA. Both have served their local chapters; both have been presenters at our national conferences; both have volunteered on many STMA committees; both have served on your national STMA board of directors; both helped to guide STMA through its early years; and both reached a milestone in 2012. It is with great pleasure that I present the STMA Presidents Award for Leadership to newly retired members David Rulli and Steve Wightman. grass extension specialist in the US. The 2013 Fred Grau winner wasCasey Gural from Guilford Technical Community College, Jamestown, NC. SAFE scholarship winners from a 4-year institutions were: Tylor Meppelink, Michigan State University; Jacob Leadbetter, Penn State University; Kevin Hansen, Iowa State University; and Andrew Wilhelm, Purdue University. STMA ACADEMY A major change in this year's Conference was the introduction of the STMA Academy, as well the addition of a number of new educational tracks. "Members through the years have asked for a higher level of opportunities to learn beyond the normal 1-hour sessions we offer," said Education Subcommittee Chairman Jeff Fowler, an extension director and turfgrass specialist for Penn State. "So we developed the Academy, which allows students and instructors to get more indepth on a particular topic. And we plan to build on that education in future conferences. The feedback I've received has been very positive." SAFE FOUNDATION The Foundation for Safer Athletic Fields (SAFE), STMA's charitable foundation with a mission "To enrich communities through championing safe, sustainable sports and recreation fields for all athletes" raised more than $35,000 during the Conference. Events included the 13th Annual Golf Tournament, played at the LPGA International's Legends Course, a Casino Night held in conjunction with the Welcome Reception, a Live Auction before Friday night's Awards Banquet, and Silent Auctions on the trade show floor Thursday and Friday. Raffle tickets also were on sale throughout the Conference for prizes. Live Auction items included Graco FieldLazer S90, custom stencils from Pioneer Athletics, a GreensGroomer, a Toro 30" mower and a Toro blower, Jacobsen logo'd bar stools, being a groundskeeper for a day with the Seattle Mariners, and a full-page ad in this magazine. Golf hole sponsors included Carolina Green; Diamond Pro/TXI; Luck Stone Company; JSM Services; DryJect, Inc.; and Turfco. Continued on page 42 GRANT & SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS Nik Wooldridge of Colorado State University was a double winner this year. Wooldridge, who interned at Fenway Park in Boston, earned the 2012 Gary Vanden Berg Internship Grant as well as a James R. Watson Scholarship, presented by The Toro Company, for 4-year institutions. The James R. Watson Scholarship program was established in 1998 in honor of Dr. James R. Watson, a long-time agronomist at Toro. Two graduate winners, both from University of Tennessee at Knoxville, also won scholarships; Kyley Dickson won the James R. Watson Scholarship, and Eric Reasor won the other graduate scholarship. Gabriel Mitchell from San Diego State University and member of the Southern California Chapter of STMA won the The Terry Mellor Continuing Education Grant, sponsored by Turface Athletics. This grant funds an STMA affiliated chapter member's attendance to the Conference and honors the importance of continuing education that Terry strongly supported his entire life. SAFE's top scholarship in a 2-year program is named after Fred Grau, the first turf- www.stma.org SportsTurf 35