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Green Section
First Green awards grants
The First Green of Washington is assisting four college students with financial grants, and is doing the same for four high school
teachers who are using the First Green program as a way to introduce more students to turfgrass science.
The student grants of $1,000 went to Shaun Knutzen of Burlington, Gregory Reilly of Deer Park and Eric Fredlund of Mount Vernon
to help in their freshman years at Washington State University. A $500 grant went to Tim McLure of Spokane who is in his freshman year
at the Community Colleges of Spokane.
The teachers who received the $1,000 grants were Becky Strite of Colville High School, Howard Maier of Eastmont High in East Wenatchee,
Keith Anderson of Cheney High and Diane Baye of Ferris High in Spokane.
"They're terrific teachers," said Washington State Golf Association Director Bill Meyer, who is chairman of the WSGA Green Committee,
which oversees The First Green of Washington program. "They're very dedicated and believe in the program and the impact it can have."
The First Green program matches up superintendents with science teachers and then uses golf courses as a living
laboratory.
These grants assist teachers with the cost of field trips to the courses and other financial requirements associated with the
program.
Strite was supported in her grant application by Sheila Stalp of Dominion Meadows Golf Course. Maier has worked with John Orr at
Wenatchee Golf and Country Club. Anderson's Links as Lab work has been done with Mark Nord, the superintendent at The Creek at
Qualchan. Baye has worked with Jeff Gullikson at Spokane Country Club.
"The program is just starting to get some traction," Meyer said. "The word is going to start to spread."
Of the three students continuing their education at WSU, two are studying turf sciences or agriculture, with one planning a career
as a superintendent, and the third is studying to be a high school teacher.
Knutzen is studying turfgrass management, a field he choose after doing a job shadow with the assistant superintendent at Bellingham
Golf and Country Club.
"I believe that a golf course superintendent is what I was born to be, and plan on working very diligently toward my goals," Knutzen
wrote in his application.
Jay Powers, one of the teachers at Knutzen's high school, Burlington-Edison, wrote a letter in support of Knutzen.
"Shaun dedicates himself to every activity he gets involved with, whether in or out of school, and he always looks to make the best
of all situations."
The application deadline for 2005 grants is Jan. 3, 2005. More information is available by contacting the WSGA and John Saegner
Jr., the managing director of the First Green of Washington, at 355 118th Ave. SE, Suite 100, Bellevue, Wash., 98005, or by calling
1-800-643-6410.
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