The SFMA Student Challenge is presented in partnership with the SAFE Foundation, Founding Partner Hunter Industries and supporting sponsor Ewing. Each year students from 2-year and 4-year colleges and universities across the country compete in an exam that challenges knowledge in the sports field industry. The winning teams receive a cash award, a plaque and medallions for each team member. The prize money benefits the institution’s turfgrass science program and creates opportunities for students pursuing a career in sports field management.
Congratulations to all of the student participants in the 2023 SFMA Student Challenge! For final results, click here.
Two Year Winners – Penn State Team 402 – Nicholas Risso, Jacob Irvin, Garrett Taylor, Matthew Hamel
Four Year Winners – Purdue Team 404 – Emma Seward, Jacob Winger, Drew Coe, William Myrehn
Please contact Kristen Althouse at kalthouse@sportsfieldmanagment.org with questions about the Student Challenge.
The SFMA Student Challenge is presented in partnership with the SAFE Foundation, Founding Partner Hunter Industries, and supporting sponsor Ewing.
Note: SFMA Education Manager Kristen Althouse oversees the Student Challenge. She teaches first-year botany students who are in a two-year program at Penn State University. These first year students do not participate in the Student Challenge. She also has signed a binding, non-disclosure agreement. For questions or concerns, please contact SFMA ph. 800-323-3875.
SFMA Student Challenge Participant Code of Conduct and Eligibility Requirements
Code of Conduct
As a participant in the SFMA Student Challenge and a guest of SFMA, SAFE, and the sponsors of the event, all participating students are expected to conduct themselves in a professional, courteous and responsible manner while at the SFMA Conference and Exhibition.
Eligibility
Participants in the SFMA Student Challenge competing on a two-year team may compete in no more than three total Student Challenge events.
Participants in the SFMA Student Challenge competing on a four-year team may compete in no more than five total Student Challenge events.
Students who have transferred from a two-year program to a four-year program may compete in up to five total Student Challenge events.
Graduate students may not participate.
Terms
Should a student be deemed to be in violation of policies by authorized SFMA staff or volunteers, the team/school that the student represents may be disqualified from current and future SFMA Student Challenge competitions and will be asked to pay for the Conference registration of all team members and forfeit all awards. Please contact SFMA with any questions regarding these policies at 800.323.3875 or sfmainfo@sportsfieldmanagement.org.
Previous SFMA Student Challenge Winners
2023 Student Challenge Champions
Two Year Competition – Penn State University Team 402
Four Year Competition – Purdue University Team 404
2022 Student Challenge Champions
Two Year Competition – Penn State University Team 101
Four Year Competition – Purdue University Team 204
2021 Student Challenge Champions
Two Year Competition – University of Maryland Team 2
Four Year Competition – University of Maryland Team 1
2020 Student Challenge Champions
Two Year Competition – Mt. San Antonio College – Team 209
Four Year Competition – Penn State University – Team 403
2019 Student Challenge Champions
Two Year Competition – Penn State University – Team 203
Four Year Competition – Iowa State University – Team 424
2018 Student Challenge Champions
Two Year Competition – Mt. San Antonio College – Team 208
Four Year Competition – Iowa State University – Team 401
2017 Student Challenge Champions
Two Year Competition – Mt. San Antonio College – Team 207
Four Year Competition – Penn State University – Team 422
2016 Student Challenge Champions
Two Year Competition – Mt. San Antonio College – Team 208
Four Year Competition – Penn State University – Team 409
2015 Student Challenge Champions
Two Year Competition – Penn State University – Team 207
Four Year Competition – University of Maryland – Team 414
2014 Student Challenge Champions
Two Year Competition – Mt. San Antonio College – Team 202
Four Year Competition – University of Maryland – Team 410
2013 Student Challenge Champions
Two Year Competition – Horry-Georgetown Technical College – Team 202
Four Year Competition – University of Maryland – Team 412
2012 Student Challenge Champions
Two Year Competition – Kirkwood Community College Team 204
Four Year Competition – Purdue University Team 402
2011 Student Challenge Champions
Two Year Competition – Mt. San Antonio College Team 206
Four Year Competition – Purdue University Team 415
2010 Student Challenge Champions
Two Year Competition – Penn State University Team 207
Four Year Competition – Penn State University Team 409
2009 Student Challenge Champions
Two Year Competition – Mt. San Antonio College Team 102
Four Year Competition – Penn State University Team 009
2008 Student Challenge Champions
Two Year Competition – Penn State University Team 104
Four Year Competition – Penn State University Team 008
2007 Student Challenge Champions
Two Year Competition – Mt. San Antonio College Team 14
Four Year Competition – University of Tennessee Team 24
2006 Student Challenge Champions
Purdue University Team 9
2005 Student Challenge Champions
Penn State University
