Sarah Thompson has been chosen to receive the Musser International Turfgrass Foundation Award of Excellence for 2006. This is an international competition and the most prestigious award a student in turfgrass science can be awarded. The annual award is presented to an outstanding doctoral student of turfgrass science who has made significant and innovative contributions to turfgrass science research. This year's award winner also receives a $20,000 cash award.
Sarah recently completed her Ph.D. final exam on January 27th and began work at BASF in the RTP shortly thereafter. In addition to the Musser Award, Sarah had also won numerous other awards including the TCNC's Eagle Award, the Outstanding TA Award for CALS, the Outstanding MS and Ph.D. student awards from the NC Entomological Society, the Preparing for the Professoriate Fellowship, the GCSAA Watson Fellowship (a $5,000 cash award), and the President's Prize at the Salt Lake City ESA annual meeting.