Friends of IPM Awards
Nominations for the 2026 Awards Cycle are now closed. The 2027 Nominations are expected to open in August 2026.
Beginning in 2008, the Southern IPM Center has recognized Friends of IPM– those with extraordinary potential to contribute to research, extension, or implementation of IPM in the Southern region of the United States. Many of the criteria for the awards are based on the National IPM Roadmap published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Those that are named “Friends of IPM” are given an award for their dedication and achievement.
The Prize
The program will provide recognition to all award winners. Each winner will receive a plaque to be presented at an appropriate venue before an audience of their peers.
The graduate student award, in addition to a public presentation of the award, comes with a sizable monetary award. The winning Masters student receives $2,000, and the winning doctoral student receives $3,000. Each department may nominate up to 3 Masters students and up to 3 Ph.D. students.
Eligibility
Applicants must be based in the Southern region (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Virginia).
Friends of IPM Awardees by Year
- Bright Idea: A Remote Sensing Technology Tool for Precision Mosquito Control, Dr. Lindsay Campbell, University of Florida
- IPM Communicator: Dr. Sriyanka Lahiri, University of Florida
- IPM Educator: Dr. Muhammad Hasseb, Florida A&M University
- Pulling Together: Dr. Claudia Riegel and the members of the Gulf South VECTOR team
- IPM Hall of Fame: Dr. L.C. ‘Fudd’ Graham (Auburn University, Alabama Fire Ant Management Program/School IPM Program), Dr. Lance Smith Osborne (University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences), Dr. Ronald H. Smith, Auburn University
- Master’s Graduate Student: Tennyson Bilinkhinyu Nkhoma, University of Florida
- Doctoral Graduate Student: Allan Busuulwa, University of Florida
- Bright Idea Award: Dr. Nupur Sarkar, Dr. Lina Bernaola, and the Bernaola Lab, Texas A&M University
- Pulling Together Award: MyIPM for Vegetables team, led by Drs. Rebecca A. Melanson, Tom Kuhar, Tom Bilbo, and Inga Meadows
- IPM Educator Award: Dr. Sonja Swiger, Texas A&M University
- Future Leader Award: Dr. Scott Graham, Auburn University
- IPM Hall of Fame Award: Eddie McGriff, Alabama Cooperative Extension System
- Doctoral Student Award (2 winners):
- Rogan Tokach, Auburn University
- Caitlyn Lawton, Auburn University
- IPM Hall of Fame: Dr. Gene Reagan* (posthumous award), LSU AgCenter
- IPM Hall of Fame: Dr. Phillip Kaufman, Texas A&M
- IPM Hall of Fame: Dr. Brian T. Forschler, University of Georgia
- IPM Hall of Fame: Dr. Jawwad Qureshi, University of Florida
- Pulling Together: Emerging Viruses in Cucurbits Working Group
- Led by Dr. Rebecca Melanson, Mississippi State & William (Bill) M Wintermantel, USDA-ARS
- IPM Communicator: Mr. Elmer W. Gray, University of Georgia
- IPM Educator: Dr. Cameron Jack, University of Florida
- IPM Implementer: Mr. Dan Killingsworth, Environmental Security Pest Control
- Future Leader: Dr. Tommy Butts, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
- Master’s Graduate Student: Ms. Jordan Melson, Auburn University
- Doctoral Graduate Student: Ms. Johnalyn Gordon, University of Kentucky
- IPM Hall of Fame: Dr. David Kerns, Texas A&M University
- IPM Hall of Fame, Dr. William Hudson, University of Georgia
- IPM Communicator: Molly Keck, Texas A&M Agrilife Extension
- IPM Educator: Wizzie Brown, Texas A&M University, Agrilife Extension
- IPM Educator: Dr. Thomas Allen, Jr., Mississippi State University
- Future Leader: Dr. Zachariah Hansen, University of Tennessee
- Master’s Graduate Student: Korey Pham, Louisiana State University
- Doctoral Graduate Student: Camilo Parada, North Carolina State University
IPM Hall of Fame:
- Tom Royer, Oklahoma State University
- Megha Parajulee, Texas A&M Agrilife
- Phillip Brannen, University of Georgia
- Scott Stewart, The University of Tennessee
- Pasco Avery, UF/IFAS/IRREC
Bright Idea: Adam Dale, University of Florida
IPM Educator: Glenn Studebaker, University of Arkansas
IPM Implementer: Conetoe Family Life Center, Conetoe, NC
Pulling Together: Mosquito BEACONS Working Group,
Future Leader: Xavier Martini, University of Florida, IFAS
Master’s Graduate Students (Joint Awardees):
- Emma Volk, NC State
- Julian Cosner, University of Tennessee Knoxville
Doctoral Graduate Student: Kelly Carruthers, University of Florida
Lifetime Achievement : Nancy Hinkle, University of Georgia
Future Leader : Rebecca Melanson, Mississippi State University
Pulling Together: Ash Sial, Sustainable Spotted Wing Drosophila Management Team
IPM Educator : University of Florida, IPM Academy
IPM Implementer: Alton “Stormy” Sparks, University of Georgia
Bright Idea: Lambert H. B. Kanga, Florida A&M University
Doctoral Graduate Student: Kadie Britt, Virginia Tech
Masters Graduate Student: Oluwatomi Ibiyemi, Auburn University
Bright Idea: Jawwad Qureshi, University of Florida (ENT)
IPM Implementer: Dini Miller, Virginia Tech (ENT)
IPM Educator: Raghuwinder (Raj) Singh, Louisiana State University (PLP)
Future Leader: Lauren Diepenbrock, University of Florida (ENT)
Lifetime Achievement: Michael Merchant, Texas A&M University (ENT)
Master’s Student: Shelly Pate, UT Knoxville
Doctoral Student: Seth Dorman, Virginia Tech
Bright Idea: Bhabesh Dutta, University of Georgia
IPM Implementer: Phillip M. Roberts, University of Georgia
IPM Educator: Jim Walgenbach, NC State
Future Leader: David Coyle, Clemson
Lifetime Achievement: Timothy Brenneman, University of Georgia
Master’s Student: Matthew A. Borden, University of Florida
Doctoral Student: Lina Bernaola, Louisiana State University
We also have a program for IPM Ambassador Travel Grants. To find out more information, click the button below: