UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Musser International Turfgrass Foundation has selected two recipients of its 2022 Musser Award of Excellence. Devon Carroll, a graduate of Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, and Travis Russell, a doctoral candidate in the college, are co-honorees.
John Kaminski, director of the golf course turfgrass management program at Penn State, said the award is prestigious and highly competitive. If none of the applicants in a given year are considered exceptional enough, the award is not presented.
The foundation and award are named after the late H. Burton Musser, professor emeritus of agronomy at Penn State. The Musser Award of Excellence is given to outstanding doctoral candidates in the final phase of their graduate studies who demonstrate overall excellence throughout their doctoral program in turfgrass research. The recipients receive $40,000 to put toward their research and education.
Kaminski, professor of turfgrass management and associate head of the Department of Plant Science, won the Musser award in 2005 while studying at the University of Maryland. “To have a former and a current student receive this award is a testament to their hard work and efforts toward earning their degrees,” he said. “I’m proud to have been a part of that process and helped to mentor them both. I look forward to following their careers as they enter the industry.”
Devon Carroll, of Thornhurst, is a doctoral candidate at the University of Tennessee. She earned a bachelor’s degree in turfgrass science and a master’s in agronomy at Penn State. She also holds a master’s in agricultural leadership, education and communications from the University of Tennessee.
Carroll wrote her dissertation on the life cycle of the bluegrass species Poa annua. She plans to pursue a career in herbicide development.
“It’s hard to put into words what receiving this award means to me,” she said. “I’ve been working toward winning the Musser award since my master’s degree. Seeing this goal come to fruition has been incredibly exciting. It’s an honor of the highest degree to be recognized among the top turfgrass scientists in the world, and I am lucky to have had the support from my academic advisers.”
While at Penn State, Carroll received funding for undergraduate research, completed multiple internships, participated in study abroad opportunities, and volunteered at the Masters golf tournament.
Carroll credited her time at Penn State for preparing her to pursue a doctoral degree and receive the Musser award. “The creation of this award in honor of a Penn State professor speaks to the strength of Penn State’s turfgrass education and research,” she said. “I am confident many of the opportunities provided by Penn State throughout my education led to my selection for this award.”
She added that she is thankful for the mentorship of all the turfgrass faculty at Penn State for encouraging her to pursue graduate school, especially Kaminski and Peter Landschoot, professor of turfgrass science, for helping her to develop research skills and for preparing her to pursue a doctorate.
Travis Russell, of Duncanville, Texas, is a doctoral candidate in turfgrass pathology. Russell received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in turfgrass science from the University of Arkansas.
At Penn State, Russell focuses on turfgrass diseases and their control. His research spans different aspects of turfgrass science, such as cultural management, weed science and pathology. His dissertation research has focused on characterizing an emerging disease of annual bluegrass called Pythium patch.
“Penn State has been exceptional in helping me reach my goals,” Russell said, while crediting Kaminski’s mentorship. “Dr. Kaminski has provided me with every resource needed to pursue my research and given me countless opportunities to enhance my professional development by sharing that research at conferences around the country.”
Russell added that the research facilities at the Joseph Valentine Turfgrass Research Center are an invaluable resource for conducting field research, and Tom Bettle, facility manager, helped to make his research possible.
He also said that his dissertation committee members — Landschoot, Mike Fidanza, professor of plant and soil sciences, and Wakar Uddin, turfgrass disease specialist and director of the Turfgrass Disease Clinic — have been great supporters of his academic and professional goals.
After defending his dissertation, Russell will start as a technical services representative for the golf and lawn care industry at Bayer Canada. He will work with turfgrass managers to provide science-based information and solutions to complex agronomic challenges facing the industry.
“I’m extremely honored that leaders in the turfgrass field considered me worthy of the recognition,” Russell said. “I was emotional when Frank Dobie, the president of the foundation, called to tell me I had been chosen as a co-recipient. To be honored with an award that is named after a legendary Penn State professor makes it that much more special.”