PGMS Salutes 2004 Green Star Award Winners

The Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS) recognized 17 grounds management programs for excellence in the Society's 2004 Green Star Awards Competition during its 2004 School of Professional Grounds Management held in conjunction with the Green Industry Exposition.

This year's program acknowledged the nation's top grounds in settings ranging from parks to apartment complexes to universities. Overall, PGMS presented 15 Grand Awards, its highest honor, as well as two Honor Awards in seven categories of competition. A record number of Grand Awards were awarded this year indicating the overall quality of the entries received by PGMS as well as the elevated professionalism in the field of grounds management. In contrast, only five Grand Awards were presented in 2003.

Vicki Killian, a Certified Grounds Manager (CGM) from the Patterson Club in Fairfield, Conn., served as this year's award chairperson. Joining her on the Awards Committee were John Van Etten, CGM, of Hoffman Development Corp. in Albany, N.Y., and Mike Loftus, CGM of University of Delaware, in Newark, Del.

Five of the Grand Award winners were in the School or University Grounds Category. The California Institute of Technology, Lebanon Valley College, University of Missouri - Rolla, University of Texas at Austin, and Wake Forest University were recognized in this category.

PGMS presented three Grand Awards and an Honor Award in the Urban University Grounds Category. American University, Dallas Theological Seminary, and University of Nevada - Las Vegas grounds programs were bestowed with Grand Awards. Located in Dallas, Southern Methodist University was an Honor Award recipient.

Winner of the Grand Award in the Athletic or Professional Fields competition was Duke University's Wallace Wade Stadium. The Honor Award recipient in this category was Texas Tech University.

Lincoln Park in the Chicago Park District was recognized with a Grand Award in the Park, Recreation Area or Playground Category.
Post Briarcliff Apartment Homes in Atlanta, Ga. and Post Harbour Place Apartment Homes in Tampa Bay, Fla. were Grand Award recipients in the Condominium or Apartment Complex Category.

PGMS also presented two Grand Awards in its Hospital or Institution competition. Located in Durham, N.C., the Duke University Medical Center was honored in this category, as was University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville, Va.

Also saluted with a Grand Award was Pinehurst Resort of Village of Pinehurst, N.C. in the Hotel, Motel or Resort Category.

Founded in 1911, PGMS is an individual membership society of grounds professionals advancing the grounds management profession through education and professional development. The Green Star Awards program brings national recognition to grounds maintained with a high degree of excellence. The program complements other national landscape award programs that recognize outstanding landscape design and construction.

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