SAFE Scholarship Program Overview
As a student member of SFMA, you enjoy all the benefits of being a professional member. However, you are entitled to one benefit that our other members are not; you are eligible for the SAFE Scholarship Program. SAFE (Foundation for Safer Athletic Fields for Everyone) was established in 2000, and its mission is “To enrich communities through championing safe, sustainable sports and recreation fields for all athletes.”
Scholarships starting at $2,500 may be awarded to students who are outstanding in the sports field management industry. In addition to a financial scholarship, each winner’s conference registration fee is paid for, and each will receive up to three nights lodging, in the student hotel, at the next SFMA Annual Conference.
As part of the program, SAFE awards named scholarships to top students in each category: the Dr. James Watson Graduate Scholarship, the Dr. James Watson Undergraduate Scholarship, the Dr. James Watson Two-year Scholarship, and the Dr. Fred Grau Scholarship. The Watson Scholarships are named in honor of long-time green industry researcher and consultant Dr. James Watson, are funded by the Toro Giving Program, and are presented to the top graduate and undergraduate scholarship recipients. The top recipient from a two-year program receives the Dr. Fred Grau scholarship, which is named in honor of the first turfgrass extension specialist in the United States. There is not a separate application for these named scholarships; they are awarded to the top graduate and undergraduate applicants.
Students who are awarded SAFE scholarships will have shown a dedication to the industry, evidenced through their academic and employment records as well as have displayed an unparalleled work ethic and a desire to further SAFE’s mission. The winning students will be a model in the classroom and the community and will have furthered the sports field management industry through leadership and service.
SAFE realizes that the future leadership of the SFMA, and the industry as whole, lies within the minds and hearts of the current SFMA student members and encourages you to apply for these scholarships. Included in this packet you will find a SAFE Scholarship Application and a Checklist for SAFE Scholarship Application. These are all the materials you need to apply for the SAFE Scholarships.
Remember, these scholarships are reserved for SFMA student members and are granted on a basis of merit, not need. These scholarships can be a launching pad for your career, putting you at the forefront of the industry and introducing you to some of the most influential people in the field.
Each year, the SAFE Scholarship Program is supported through the Toro Giving Program, SAFE Fundraising Events, proceeds from the SAFE Live Auction, and the donations of individuals and corporations.