Krystal Dixon Awarded Dr. Henry W. Indyk Scholarship

KRYSTAL DIXON

AWARDED DR. HENRY W. INDYK SCHOLARSHIP

Krystal Dixon has been awarded the one-year Dr. Henry W. Indyk Scholarship, which is administered by The Lawn Institute (TLI). Krystal is the daughter of Steve and Michelle Dixon of New Hampton, New York. Her Dad is an employee of DeBuck’s Sod Farm of New York, located in Pine Island, New York. Gregory L. DeBuck, company president, endorsed Krystal’s scholarship application. Krystal is currently finishing her sophomore year at Cornell University, in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, majoring in Environment and Sustainability. Krystal is excelling in her classwork at Cornell, making the Dean’s List each of the three semesters she has completed.

In her essay, “How has the turfgrass industry shaped your personal character?” Krystal reported that, as a kid, she wanted to be a truck driver when she grew up because she thought her Dad “had the coolest job in the world. He got to work outside, drive a truck, and he had the privilege of bringing us kids to the sod farm on the weekends.” And she described how much she enjoyed being with him, “… driving around on acres of what seemed like a sea of green. We got to spot a variety of wildlife including egrets, herons, deer, turtles, and even coyotes. To me, his workplace was one of the most beautiful places on earth.” And she reported, when she was sixteen, she got a chance to drive a tractor, mowing at that same farm, noting it was a “great learning experience” and she gained “a greater appreciation for all that farmers do and saw first-hand the long hours that go into maintaining a crop. To this day, it has been my favorite job.” She wrote the experience taught her, “Working outdoors in the environment is something I wanted to continue to do. Had my father not had this job, I don’t think I would have ever discovered this was a field I could go into. The turfgrass industry led me on a path to discovering my own passion for the environment.” In her essay, “What are your career goals and how will receiving this scholarship help you reach those goals?” Krystal wrote, “I wholeheartedly believe that everyone should have the chance to experience the same fascination with nature I discovered.” And, “Environment and sustainability is a broad topic that has applications in almost every field today.” Reporting that she has chosen environmental biology and applied ecology as her area of concentration, she wrote, “I am hoping to get involved with natural resource management and wildlife conservation.” Having gained a love of fishing from her Dad, she wrote, “One of the specific fields I am interested in is fisheries management. Receiving this scholarship would help me pay to attend a sustainable fisheries management class being offered in Maine this summer.” Cornell offers that course at the Shoals Marine Laboratory on Appledore Island, and as Krystal explained by phone, “Much of our time will be on a boat, out in the ocean, meeting the fishermen, those working within the actual system, seeing and learning about how sustainable fisheries actually operate. I’m hoping to gain insight to know if that’s the career course I want to pursue for sure.”

In her essay, she reported she was “…considering a minor in sustainable agriculture. The summer I spent working on a sod farm fueled my interest in farming. While my duties may have been limited to mowing fields, I still got to see sustainable farming measures first-hand.” And, “Farming is always going to be essential, and I would like to learn about ways to increase their sustainability. At Cornell, classes on sustainable weed and pest management have piqued my interest.”

Krystal’s application packet included a letter of recommendation from Erin L. Natalizio, her teacher for honors geometry at Minisink Valley High School and her varsity soccer coach. Ms. Natalizio wrote, “Krystal Dixon goes above and beyond what is expected of her in every aspect of life. Her dynamic and diverse personality leaves a footprint on those whose lives she has touched.”

Krystal extends her thank you to TLI and all the donors who contribute to the scholarship program, saying, “Receiving this scholarship will help me continue to follow my passion for working toward a more sustainable future.”