MTF Sports and Commercial Turf Award

In 1987, MSU and the MTF recognized the importance of the lawn care industry in Michigan and the benefits of increasing its number of well-educated turf managers. To this end, Mr. Walter Wilkie, owner of the Toro Distributor in Pontiac and the Bare Foot Lawn franchises in Michigan, funded the startup of the Lawn Care Management Program in MSU's Institute of Agricultural Technology. A similar need by the sports turf industry was recognized in 1992 when its name was changed to the Lawn Care/Athletic Turf Program and then again in 1997 when it became the Sports and Commercial Turf Management Program. Recognized nationally as the only one of its kind, the program continues to graduate outstanding students, many of whom have gone on to become well known and successful leaders in their respective industries. 

YEAR RECIPIENT
1990 Marc  Stine
1991 Matt Kawa
1992 N/A
1993 Gerald Lavender
1994 Steve Martinko
1995 Robert Carson
1996 Todd Rowley
1997 David Datema
1998 Jeff Bodziak
1999 Jeff Bodziak
2000 Michael Tremper
2001 Charles Eastman
2002 Gregory Elliot
2003 Loyd Bowman
2004 Tim Hackett
2005 Derek Curtis
2006 Mark Picucci
2007 Jason DeMink
2008 Russell Bray
2009 Brian McDougal
2010 N/A
2011 Daniel Jennings
2012 Nick Wolcott
2013 Nicholas Binder
2014 Josh Alleman
2015 Ian Bumpus
2016 N/A
2017 Kirk Thomas
2021 Keith Koch
2023 David Berger