Kenworthy receives Turfgrass Educator Award of Excellence

ASA and CSSA member Kevin Kenworthy, Ph.D., professor and graduate coordinator, plant breeding, at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, recently received the Turfgrass Educator Award of Excellence from Turfgrass Producers International. The award recognizes achievement in growing industry through education. 

Kenworthy’s 30-plus years of experience in turfgrass includes working on golf courses, employment in the Texas sod industry, a research association position in the Texas A&M Turfgrass Breeding program, and teaching turfgrass management at Tarleton State University. 

Kenworthy began his current role in 2004, where he encouraged the development of a world-class turfgrass breeding program built on collaboration between growers and end users. He’s commercialized three turfgrass cultivars: CitraBlue St. Augustinegrass, CitraZoy, and Brazos zoysiagrasses. He holds six patents, has authored or coauthored 125 refereed journal articles, and chaired 22 graduate students. 

“Kevin is a great example of an educator who is actively working for the growth of the industry, encouraging collaboration and education,” says Casey Reynolds, TPI Executive Director.  “We applaud his dedication to building stronger connections between sod producers and end users.”

_{—Source: Turfgrass Producers International}