Upper Iowa University students place well at national sports turf conference
Upper Iowa University applied plant science seniors Jake Newman (left) from Knoxville, Iowa, and Shaun Eberhart from Charlotte, Iowa, recently competed in the Sports Turf Managers Association's Student Challenge. The UIU team placed 10th overall among 26 teams from four-year institutions.
FAYETTE, Iowa (February 11 , 2013) – Two Upper Iowa University applied plant science seniors finished as the 10th-place team out of 26 teams from four-year institutions at this year's Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) conference held in Daytona, Fla., in January.
Jake Newman from Knoxville, Iowa, and Shaun Eberhart, from Charlotte, Iowa, competed in the STMA Student Challenge, which consisted of a multiple choice test, plant identification exercise and short answer component. The team of Newman and Eberhart tied for fifth place on the multiple choice component of the challenge.
The applied plant science major in the School of Science & Mathematics at Upper Iowa University is a 2 + 2 program where students complete their first two years at a community college in approved applied plant coursework and finish the last two years at UIU taking upper-level plant science coursework.
"Jake and Shaun completed their first two years in the turfgrass management program at Kirkwood Community College under the direction of UIU applied plant science alumnus Troy McQuillen," explained Scott Figdore, UIU Interim Dean of Science & Mathematics. "This training, along with coursework that Jake and Shaun have been taking at UIU in plant pathology, plant nutrition and plant physiology, prepared them to be competitive and highly successful. We are extremely proud of them and all students and alumni of this program."
About Upper Iowa University Founded in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a private, not-for-profit university providing undergraduate and graduate degree programs and leadership development opportunities to some 6,200 students—nationally and internationally—at its Fayette campus and learning centers worldwide. Upper Iowa University is a recognized innovator in offering accredited, quality programs through flexible, multiple delivery systems, including online and independent study. For more information, visit www.uiu.edu.