NYSTA awards scholarships

Rochester, N.Y. – The New York State Turfgrass Association presented scholarships to students at the Empire State Green Industry Show – Nov. 15 through 17, 2005 in Rochester, N.Y. Students enrolled in accredited turf management programs were eligible to receive these scholarships.

The $625 John Cornman Scholarship was awarded to Donald Cooper of SUNY Delhi. This scholarship was founded in the name of John Farnsworth Cornman, one of the founders of the New York State Turfgrass Association, and a former professor of ornamental horticulture at Cornell University.

In addition, scholarships were awarded to SUNY Delhi students: Chad Risley, $600; Daniel Dulin, $500; and Jason Jacobsen; $400; SUNY Cobleskill students: Adam Holligan, $600; Jared La Tour, $500; and Robert Valente, $500; and Cornell University student Andrew Sliwa, $600.

Winners of the $1,000 S.V. Moffett III Scholarships were Anne Beckingham, SUNY Delhi; Timothy Christian, SUNY Cobleskill; and Geoffrey Robeson, Penn State University. This scholarship was named in honor of Stephen V. Moffett, III, who led the S.V. Moffett Company’s turf and irrigation equipment business from 1982 until his passing in 1996. He was also a member of the NYSTA board of directors and a trade show chairman.

A $1,000 Peter P. Hahn Scholarship was awarded to Todd Frary of SUNY Cobleskill.

Scholarships in the amount of $500 also were awarded to SUNY Delhi students, John Quealy and Mike Aube. This scholarship was named in honor of Peter P. Hahn, former vice president of NYSTA. Each year, a golf tournament is held in his name and the proceeds are awarded to the scholarship winners.

NYSTA’s scholarship program was developed to support the education of students and thereby ensure the future growth and development of the turfgrass industry. Awards are based on academic achievement, career objectives, community involvement and employment history.