The Environmental Institute for GolfChase Rogan, Tim Valicka and Nick Klinkhammer are winners of the 2010 Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) Student Essay Contest.

"Congratulations to Chase, Tim and Nick for their outstanding writing contributions," GCSAA President James R. Fitzroy, CGCS, said. "With support from the EIFG, GCSAA is able to reward our members working toward degrees with scholarship stipends as an investment in research beneficial to our industry."

Open to GCSAA members who are undergraduate or graduate students pursuing degrees in turfgrass science, agronomy or any field related to golf course management, the GCSAA Essay Contest accepts entries with a focus on golf course management. The scholarship funding is provided by The Environmental Institute for Golf through the Robert Trent Jones Endowment.

Judges from the GCSAA scholarship committee select winners to receive scholarships and the first place entry may be published or excerpted in the association's official publication, GCM.

Rogan, a GCSAA student member from Saegertown, Pa., is a graduate student at Penn State University. He won the first place scholarship of $2,000 for his essay: "Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program - Making Golf Courses Greener."

Valicka, a GCSAA student member from Tower Lakes, Ill., is a junior at Iowa State University. He earned the second place prize of $1,500 for his paper: "The Superintendent's Dilemma."

Klinkhammer, a GCSAA student member from Sartell, Minn., is a junior at the University of Minnesota. He claimed the third place award of $1,000 for his writing: "Cultural Control Strategies for Colletotrichum Cereale."

The Environmental Institute for Golf is the philanthropic organization of GCSAA and is a collaborative effort of the environmental and golf communities, dedicated to strengthening the compatibility of golf with the natural environment. The Institute concentrates on delivering programs and services involving research, education and outreach that communicate the best management practices of environmental stewardship on the golf course. Backed by the organizations of Golf 20/20 and the World Golf Foundation, the EIFG is leading the golf course industry's commitment to continual environmental improvement through its initiative "Golf's Drive Toward Sustainability." For more on the EIFG, visit www.eifg.org.

GCSAA is a leading golf organization and has as its focus golf course management. Since 1926, GCSAA has been the top professional association for the men and women who manage golf courses in the United States and worldwide. From its headquarters in Lawrence, Kan., the association provides education, information and representation to more than 20,000 members in more than 72 countries. GCSAA's mission is to serve its members, advance their profession and enhance the enjoyment, growth and vitality of the game of golf. Visit GCSAA at www.gcsaa.org.

For more information contact:
Mischia Wright, EIFG senior manager, development, at 800-472-7878 or mwright@gcsaa.org