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Upcoming Event
STARS OF THE INDUSTRY:
TTA Award and Scholarship Applications
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An exciting part of our Annual Conference program is the presentation of awards and scholarships honoring those members who work hard to demonstrate a commitment to excellence, best practices, innovation, collaboration and dedication.
AWARDS
As an association, we are proud to honor and highlight those turfgrass managers who go the extra mile, as recognition by our peers imparts extra significance to these awards.
The TTA Board hopes to see many businesses and individuals across the state represented in applications this year. Please nominate a deserving professional – it’s quick and easy to complete the nomination form!
TOM SAMPLES PROFESSIONAL of the YEAR
One of the most prestigious and highest recognitions bestowed on a Tennessee turfgrass professional by the Tennessee Turfgrass Association is the Tom Samples Professional of the Year Award. Each year TTA members are given the opportunity to nominate those who they feel have made contributions to the turfgrass industry.
TO NOMINATE: https://ttaonline.org/page-1822617
RECENT RECIPIENTS INCLUDE:
2021 Bob McCurdy
2019 Brandon Horvath
2020 Frank Turner
2018 Bill Blackburn
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AWARD
The Tennessee Turfgrass Association (TTA) would like to recognize outstanding contributions by individuals, organizations, businesses, educational institutions, and agencies for successful projects or activities designed to improve the environment through wildlife habitat preservation, water and resource conservation and reduction, and educational outreach. Through our Environmental Stewardship Award, we can create greater knowledge and awareness of environmental and conservation practices and projects by members of TTA which have demonstrated outstanding contributions to environmental protection and improvement.
CRITERIA FOR CONSIDERATION
The following criteria must be met to submit for the Tennessee Turfgrass Association Environmental Stewardship Award:
• Property must be fully managed by an active and in good standing member of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association.
• Property must be in use for at least two years.
TO NOMINATE: https://ttaonline.org/Environmental- Stewardship-Nomination-Form
RECENT RECIPIENTS INCLUDE:
2018 Jordan Clark, The Links at Kahite
2019 Chris Lloyd, The Country Club, Morristown
2020 Three Ridges Golf Course
2021 Curtis Pique, Univertisy of Tennessee
GOLF COURSE OF THE YEAR
The Tennessee Turfgrass Association (TTA) recognizes that you make personal and professional contributions to our industry and to the organization you serve. Therefore, the TTA would like to distinguish golf courses across the state with the Golf Course of the Year Award. Through these awards we are able to further one main element of our mission which is to gain acknowledgement for the professionalism of our members.
CRITERIA FOR CONSIDERATION
The following criteria must be met to submit for the Tennessee Turfgrass Association Golf Course of the Year Award:
• To be considered a golf course must have had two full seasons of play.
• All materials must be submitted in one application packet to be considered.
TO NOMINATE: https://ttaonline.org/Golf-Course-of-the-Year- Nomination-Form
RECENT RECIPIENTS INCLUDE:
2018:
Public Course of the Year, Tim Parsons, The Course at Sewanee
Private Course of the Year, Guy Hudson, Oak Ridge Country Club
2019:
Public Course of the Year, Bobby Schultz, Presidents Reserve Course
Private Course of the Year, Ryan Blair, Holston Hills Country Club
2020:
Public Course of the Year, WillowBrook Golf Club
Private Course of the Year, Belle Meade Country Club
2021:
Public Course of the Year, Gary Southerland, Egwani Farms
Private Course of the Year, Jason Sanderson, Troubadour Golf and Field Club
SPORTS FIELD of the YEAR
The Tennessee Turfgrass Association (TTA) recognizes that you make personal and professional contributions to our industry and to the organization you serve. Therefore, the TTA would like to distinguish fields across the state with the Sports Fields of the Year Award. Through these awards we are able to further one main element of our mission which is to gain acknowledgement for the professionalism of our members.
CRITERIA FOR CONSIDERATION
The following criteria must be met to submit for the Tennessee Turfgrass Association Sports Field of the Year Award
• For the purposes of this award, a “field” constitutes ONE natural grass playing surface
• To be considered a field must have had two full seasons of play (may be concurrent, i.e., football and soccer on the same field in the fall, etc.)
• All materials must be submitted in one application packet to be considered.
TO NOMINATE: https://ttaonline.org/Sports-Field-of-the-Year
RECENT RECIPIENTS INCLUDE:
2018:
High School Field of the Year, Kris Drake, Webb School of Knoxville Municipal Field of the Year, Joe Rodocker, RichEllen Sports Complex Collegiate Field of the Year, Mike Policastro, Cleveland State Baseball Professional Field of the Year, Eric Taylor, the Ballpark at Jackson
2019:
High School Field of the Year, Mike McLaury, Independence High School Collegiate Field of the Year, Neyland Stadium, Darren Saybold Municipal Field of the Year, Billy Grisard, Drakes Creek Park Professional Field of the Year, Eric Taylor, Smokies Stadium
2020:
High School Field of the Year, Ensworth Football Collegiate Field of the Year, Haslam Field Municipal Field of the Year, West Tennessee Healthcare Sportsplex Professional Field of the Year, Nissan Stadium
2021:
High School Field of the Year, John Clintsman, Ensworth Baseball Collegiate Field of the Year, Mark Brew, Olympic Field at Lee University Municipal Field of the Year, Andrew Jacks, Camp Jordan Professional Field of the Year, Duncan Long, Smokies Stadium
SCHOLARSHIPS
Supporting the next generation through college scholarships is an honor – TTA is proud to support students in their pursuit of higher education! If you know a high school senior who meets the criteria for these scholarships, please encourage them to apply!
LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP
The Tennessee Turfgrass Association Legacy Scholarship offers financial aid to children or grandchildren of active TTA members in good standing. Scholarship applicants are not required to be pursuing education in a turfgrass related field to be eligible for the TTA Legacy Scholarship. The scholarship is funded and administered by the TTA. The scholarship is $2000.
REQUIREMENTS
1. Applicant must be enrolled at a Tennessee accredited institution of higher learning in Tennessee.
2. Applicant must be the child or grandchild of a current, in good standing member of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association.
ERNEST HARDISON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
The Ernest Hardison Memorial Scholarship offers financial aid to students interested in pursuing a career in turf management. The scholarship is funded and administered by the TTA. The Scholarship and Awards Committee will review all applications and select the scholarship recipient. All decisions of the committee will be final. This scholarship will be awarded at the TTA annual conference and a check will be made payable to the recipient in the amount of $2000.
ELIGIBILITY
1. Applicants must be enrolled at a Tennessee accredited institution of higher learning in Tennessee in a turf management related field of study. Applicants who are enrolled in online and/or correspondence courses must be currently employed in a turf management related field in Tennessee.
Visit https://ttaonline.org/page-1583684 for applications.
