PGMS announces 2015 award winners

This awards program brings national recognition to grounds maintained with a high degree of excellence. The Green Star competition complements other national landscape award programs that recognize outstanding landscape design and construction. Overall, PGMS presented six Grand Awards, its highest honor, as well as twenty-one Honor Awards and two Merit Awards in ten categories of competition.

 

In the Athletic Fields category, Columbia University, in New York City received a Grand Award. An Honor Award was given to Concordia University in Irvine, California.

 

UNC-TV Bryan Communications Center in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina received an Honor Award in the Government Building or Complex category.

 

A Grand Award was given in the Hotel, Motel or Resort category to Harrah's Cherokee Casino Grounds in Cherokee, North Carolina.

 

Red Diamond, corporate headquarters in Moody, Alabama, received a Grand Award in the Industrial, Commercial Site or Office Park category. An Honor Award was given to River Creek Owners Association in Leesburg, Virginia.

 

An Honor Award was given in the Park, Rec Area or Playground category to Vines Park - Gwinnett County Parks and Rec in Lawrenceville, Georgia.

 

Merit Awards were given in the School Grounds (kindergarten, high school) category to Baton Rouge Magnet High School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida.

 

An Honor Award was given in the Small Site category to University of Tennessee South Campus Entry and Lake Loudoun Boulevard Streetscape in Knoxville, Tennessee.

 

Several institutions were recognized in the University and College Grounds category. Penn State University - University Park in University Park, Pennsylvania received a Grand Award. Honor Awards were given to the following institutions:

Baylor University in Waco, Texas; Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia; Mississippi State University in Mississippi State, Mississippi; Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, MD; Slippery Rock University in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania; Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas.

 

Several institutions were recognized in the University and College Grounds (Small) category. Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York received a Grand Award. Honor Awards were given to the following institutions:

Duke University East Campus in Durham, North Carolina; Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois; Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas; University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky; Virginia Wesleyan College in Norfolk, Virginia; Wabash College in Crawford, Indiana.

 

In the last category, Urban University Grounds, the Grand Award was given to Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. Honor Awards were presented to Auburn University in Montgomery, Alabama; New York University in New York, New York; Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia; and The University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas.

 

PGMS also honored several grounds professionals with numerous awards at the annual dinner.

 

PGMS recognized APPA with the PGMS Gold Medal Award. The PGMS Gold Medal is given to an individual or entity to recognize them for outstanding and long-term achievements and/or contributions to the green industry. APPA was recognized for their long-term support of PGMS in advancing the value of grounds professional to education facilities directors and for its advise, counsel and promotion of the PGMS Landscape Management and Operations Accreditation program.

 

Walter Bonvell, a certified grounds manager (CGM) posthumously received the PGMS Earl E. Wilson Award. The E. Earl Wilson Award is given to a PGMS member for long-term dedication to the Society and the Green Industry. Walt was recognized for his many years of devoted and dedicated leadership to PGMS including his many positions within the Cincinnati Branch as well as the National organization including that of President. He was one of the greatest promoters of the value of being a member of PGMS.

 

Cary Avery, a certified grounds manager (CGM) at University of California – Davis in Camino, California, received the Professional Grounds Management Society’s (PGMS) President’s Award. The PGMS Gold Medal is given to an individual or entity to recognize them for outstanding and long-term achievements and/or contributions to the green industry. Avery received the award for his leadership service on the board of directors and his successful coordination of the 2015 PGMS Summer Conference at UC-Davis.