The Musser International Turfgrass Foundation has selected Dr. John Peppers as its 2024 Award of Excellence recipient.
The award is given to outstanding doctorate candidates who, in the final phase of their graduate studies, demonstrated overall excellence throughout their doctoral program in turfgrass research.
Peppers received his bachelor’s degree in turfgrass science and master’s degree in turfgrass weed science at Auburn University under Dr. Scott McElroy. His research at Auburn focused around potential turfgrass uses with pinoxaden (Manuscript herbicide). He went on to earn a doctorate in plant pathology, physiology and weed science with a concentration in turfgrass weed science from Virginia Tech under Dr. Shawn Askew.
While at Virginia Tech, he worked as a graduate research assistant as well as the field trial manager for Askew’s lab. His dissertation was titled, “Evaluation of novel techniques to control annual grasses in intensively managed turfgrass systems.” His doctorate research centered around the implementation of herbicidal programs and application technologies for annual bluegrass, crabgrass and goosegrass control on and around golf course putting greens.
Peppers has already published 14 peer-reviewed research papers from his master’s and doctorate projects and has five more currently in draft or under review on the topic of turfgrass weed science. He is an author of more than 50 scientific abstracts and has given approximately 60 research presentations nationally and internationally. He plans to focus his career on providing practical, research-based solutions for turfgrass managers.
“I am extremely honored to receive the Musser Award of Excellence,” Peppers said. “I have long admired many of the previous winners as these are some of the biggest names in turfgrass research. I am humbled to be mentioned among such a prestigious group. This achievement would not have been possible without the constant support of my wife Cynthia, my family, my fellow graduate students, and Drs. Shawn Askew and Scott McElroy.”
The criteria for selecting award recipients include graduate work, academic record, dissertation, publications, leadership, and extracurricular activities. To date, awards have been granted to doctoral students from universities including Arizona, Auburn, Cornell, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina State, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Michigan State, Rutgers, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Virginia Tech.
To learn more about Professor H. Burton Musser, the Foundation’s history and past recipients of the award, visit www.musserfoundation.org.
