For immediate release
UTB/TSC grounds crew receives top award
BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS –NOVEMBER 4, 2009 – Grounds maintenance at The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College has received the Professional Grounds Management Society Grand Awar
d in the “urban university” category.
Lawrence Neuburg, UTB/TSC grounds maintenance superintendent, accepted the award at the annual PGMS conference, held in Louisville, Kentucky, Oct. 28-31.
“I was honored to accept the award on behalf of our grounds maintenance employees. They really deserve all the credit,” Neuburg said. “All our employees in the department do an amazing job of keeping our 467-acre campus looking beautiful.”
While at the conference, Neuburg gave a presentation on the winning entry, the Education and Business Complex, with a focus on its tropical courtyards. He submitted photos highlighting the EDBC grounds with golden shower trees, plumerias, bird of paradise and a variety of palms, including Cuban royal palms, Robelini (pygmy date palms) and sabal palms.
UTB/TSC was one of only two universities in the competition with a tropical landscape. The other was the University of Miami.
“That brings such a unique aesthetic to our campus, and I wanted to capitalize on that,” Neuburg said.
One of the three grounds maintenance crew leaders, six-year UTB/TSC employee Albert Ruiz, is responsible for the gardens and courtyards.
“I was here when EDBC opened, and we knew at the time that the landscaping was going to look wonderful after it filled out and matured. Now look how beautiful it is with everything forming in, some at capacity and some with a ways to go,” Ruiz said.
Having worked primarily in northern climes, Neuburg became an instant convert to living and working in the Valley’s tropical setting when he moved here 5 years ago.
“We have a little paradise here with a 365-day growing season” Neuburg said. “And being from Wisconsin, I always remind people low lucky we are that we don’t have to shovel sunshine.”
The Professional Grounds Management Society was established in 1911 by a garden club in upstate New York. The majority of PGMS members are institutional grounds managers who work for organizations, such as colleges and universities, municipalities, park and recreation facilities, hotels and theme parks.