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San Antonio, TX - Crop Science Society of America (CSSA) announced the six graduate-student recipients of Turfgrass Water Conservation Awards, or TWCA(wards), at the annual Business meeting. 2024 is the third cohort of TWCA(ward) recipients and the second TWCA(dvocacy) award. The TWCA sponsored, TWCA(ward), is one of five graduate research award categories administered by the C-5 Turfgrass Science Division of CSSA. Like all categories, the TWCA(ward) has separate Oral and Poster sub-categories. Ranked, by Div. C-5 member-volunteers, on the science quality, communication clarity, and skill with which the presenters answer questions, submissions are selected to three ranked spaces. The top presenters in both sub-categories receive one thousand ($1000), five hundred ($500), and two hundred fifty ($250) dollars, respectively. Other sponsored categories in the C-5 Turfgrass Science Division include Turfgrass Management and Ecology, Golf Course Management (sponsored by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America), Turfgrass Breeding, Genomics, Physiology, and Molecular Biology (sponsored by the Turfgrass Breeders Association) and Turfgrass Pest Management (sponsored by the C-5 Industry Committee). From all the excellent presentations, the volunteer judges selected these as the six most exceptional works by Graduate students in 2024. One of these TWCA(ward) recipients will also receive the TWCA(dvocacy) award. Providing a unique and exciting opportunity, the TWCA(dvocate) takes part in ACSESS Congressional Visits Day, receiving expert advocacy training before advocating for turfgrass research to legislators on the Capitol. 2024 recipients included two familiar faces. Michael Rabe (pronounced, Ray- bee), of Michigan State University earned top honors for his presentation, “Comparing Variable Depth and Capillary Hydroponic System Rootzones for Sustainable Putting Green Management” was the 2023 third ranked Oral presenter. He also served as the first TWCA(dvocate). Patrick McLoughlin, of Texas A&M University joined Rabe as a repeat honoree with his presentation, “Nutrient Leaching in Turfgrass: Effects of Recycled Wastewater As Irrigation Source.” McLoughlin’s 2024 work builds on his initially recognized , “Combined Effect of Water Quality and Nitrogen Sources on Warm-Season Grasses Performance and N Absorption.” Both Rabe and McLoughlin join the exclusive “repeat club” founded by Antonio Verzotto of Purdue University. Verzotto earned the second rank poster award in 2022 before achieving first ranking in the same division the following year with his poster “Cool-Season Species Response to Four Irrigation Programs in the Midwest” becoming the first repeat recipient. TWCA began sponsoring the Graduate Research awards in 2022 to ensure skilled researchers stay interested in drought tolerance. Since then, TWCA sponsorship has supported nineteen (19) CSSA awards to fifteen (15) graduate students totaling eight thousand dollars ($8000.) TWCA is a 501c3 non-profit organization committed to water conservation and dedicated to preserving the environmental benefits of turfgrass in the managed environment. TWCA’s third-party peer-review qualifications, rooted in objective data, earns a critical place in water conservation efforts across North America as the recognized mark of drought tolerant turfgrass. Learn more about our awards and evaluation programs and support TWCA at tgwca.org. HIGHLIGHTS
8/12/2025 11:09:14 am
Congrats to the recepients, and thank you so much for your dedication and the hard, yet exciting work that you do that is so central to our field and sustainability, making it better for everyone and our environment!! Comments are closed.
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Program AdministratorJack Karlin is the Program Administrator for TWCA. His interest is in using policy and the built environment to create livable and sustainable communities. Archives
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