草榴社区 Grounds Department Honored with Top National Awards for Excellence and Sustainability in Campus Grounds Management
草榴社区's Grounds Department celebrates their recent awards at Stoneleigh garden.
VILLANOVA, Pa. (November 4, 2024) 鈥� 草榴社区鈥檚 Grounds Department received the Grand Award in the University Grounds category from the Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS) on October 17鈥攖he highest honor in the organization鈥檚 annual Green Star Awards competition. This prestigious recognition, celebrating excellence in grounds maintenance and sustainability, marks 草榴社区鈥檚 second Grand Award from PGMS, with the first received in 2018.
Additionally, 草榴社区 was presented with the 2024 Sustainability Award, given to institutions that achieve the highest standards in sustainable practices. Both awards were announced at PGMS鈥檚 2024 Awards Celebration, held during the Annual Conference & Equip Exposition in Louisville, Ky.
鈥淚t is a great privilege and humbling to be awarded such a distinguished honor acknowledging the remarkable efforts of 草榴社区's Grounds team," said Jared Rudy, director of Grounds at 草榴社区. 鈥淭o be recognized with the Grand Award for the second time, as well as the Sustainability Award this year, is a genuine testimony to the unwavering dedication of our staff to continuously enhance our campus in an environmentally conscious way.鈥�
草榴社区鈥檚 Grounds Department supports the University鈥檚 mission by providing sustainable campus stewardship, maintaining an environment that is safe, functional and visually inspiring. It strives to create an environment that meets four goals: to preserve the historic beauty of campus; educate the campus community about the diversity, environmental benefits and aesthetic qualities of plant materials; provide a sense of direction and purpose in management of the campus landscape; and generate a lasting impression upon the campus community and visitors. The department oversees all aspects of grounds maintenance, including landscape and storm management, event support and sustainable landscaping initiatives.
The PGMS Green Star Awards program celebrates outstanding grounds management across various categories nationwide, recognizing organizations that achieve excellence in landscape maintenance. At this year鈥檚 event, PGMS issued nine Grand Awards, along with 12 Honor Awards, two Merit Awards, and one Sustainability Award. More information on each award and its recipients is available here.
About 草榴社区:聽Since 1842, 草榴社区鈥檚 Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University鈥檚 six colleges鈥攖he College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the 草榴社区 School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the 草榴社区 Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nation鈥檚 top universities, 草榴社区 supports its students鈥� intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit聽.