Bridging the gap between the academic world and the turfgrass industry
The mission of the Foundation is to bridge the gap between the academic world and the real-world application of turfgrass research and development. The Foundation will help accomplish this goal by providing turfgrass science students with travel scholarships to industry events and field days and by awarding grants to academic programs engaged in sustainable turfgrass research.
The Bill Rose Foundation has been formed in memory and honor of Bill Rose, the founder of Pure Seed, Roselawn and Pure-Seed Testing and pioneer in the grass seed industry. Bill was a cattle rancher, grass seed farmer, and a visionary in the grass seed industry. His philosophy of leading with research, quality production, seed services and marketing innovations have impacted the world. His relationships and ideas have influenced countless people from farms to ranches, golf courses, sports fields, and home lawns. The foundation is determined to continue innovation in the turfgrass industry through support of students and academic research programs across the United States.
Meet the Scholarship Winners
The 2026 Bill Rose Foundation Scholarship Winners
North Carolina State University
Balihar Kaur
Balihar Kaur is a second year Ph.D. student in the Turfgrass Breeding and Genetics Program at NC State University. Her…
University of Arkansas
Sharandeep Singh Chahal
Sharandeep Singh Chahal is originally from a farming family in Punjab, India, where his early interest in plant health was…
Penn State University
Zachary Newsome
Originally from Claymont, Delaware, I developed an interest in turfgrass management through a summer position at a local country club.…
University of Georgia
Kamalpreet Kaur Dhillon
I am a Ph.D. candidate in the Turfgrass Breeding and Genetics Program at the University of Georgia, Tifton campus, working…
North Carolina State University
Stefano Fratton
Stefano Fratton is a PhD student in Plant Breeding at North Carolina State University, working at the intersection of field…
University of Georgia - Griffin Campus
Raviteja Seelam
Raviteja Seelam is a Ph.D. candidate in Crop and Soil Sciences at the University of Georgia. His research focuses on…
Michigan State University
Zachary Flink
Zach Flink recently earned his B.S. in Crop and Soil Science with a concentration in turfgrass management from Michigan State…
