Nov 20, 2006 - Claremont, Calif. -

The Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS) recognized Harvey Mudd College with an Honor Award in the society's 2006 Green Star Awards competition.

The award was given in the University and College Grounds category for exceptional grounds maintenance. Winners were honored during the Society's 2006 School of Grounds Management event held in conjunction with the Green Industry Exposition in Columbus, Ohio, Nov. 1-4.

HMC's grounds crew was recognized for its maintenance of the Norman F. Sprague Memorial Library Courtyard. In all, the college's grounds include 13 acres of turf, five acres of display beds and nine acres of paved areas.

The Green Star Awards program brings national recognition to grounds maintained with a high degree of excellence, complimenting other national landscape award programs that recognize outstanding landscape design and construction. This year's program acknowledged the nation's top manicured grounds in settings ranging from parks to apartment complexes to cemeteries. Overall, PGMS presented 14 Grand Awards, its highest honor, and 12 Honor Awards in a dozen categories of competition.

Founded in 1911, PGMS is an individual membership society of grounds professionals advancing the grounds management profession through education and professional development.

Grounds crew (from left to right in photo): Juan Nunez, Mario Armenta, Grounds Service Manager Michael Barber, Francisco Partida, and Fancisco Zamorano.