News / Articles

December 2024 update from Dr. Trey Rogers

Dr. Trey Rogers | Published on 12/31/2024

MSU Turf Update

December 2024

Greetings from a quiet and relatively normal Land of Green and White. I like the current direction and leadership on the campus. It makes me feel good again.

The year was particularly rewarding for our students as we won the top awards for the GCSAA, SFMA, and ASGCA. Very proud moment for the faculty.

I hope you all are well and safe. Enjoy this update.

Keep looking for lost souls.

Trey Rogers

Student Update - Fall 2024

The beginning Turfgrass class this fall had 35 students, 19 from the two-year program and 16 from the BS program. The turfgrass seminar class had 64 students and 7 females. I cannot recall this high of a percentage in the past.

The numbers continue to be strong, and if inquiries have told me anything over the past, we will continue this trend. Keep up the good work. The one price in-state tuition for the 2 year programs should help.

Previous Class Pictures

In state Tuition for all IAT students

About this time last year I announced that all IAT students (2-Year Golf and Sports Turf programs) will pay one flat rate, regardless of residency! This meant the two year program for out of state/country students is the same price as for in-state residents. This implementation came off smoothly this past fall as we had a couple of people take advantage. Please help us spread the word.

MSU Turf Website

2024 G.W. Hamilton Memorial Cutter Cup

Dublin, OH

The Spartans made it four in a row this past October with a 3-2 victory over the Penn State University Turf program in the 32nd annual GW Hamilton Cutter Cup Match. Host superintendent Chad Mark welcomed us with open arms to the world famous Muirfield Village GC. The day perfect and the golf course just fantastic! The staff at MVGC treated both teams to a nice lunch and then back to their respective homes with thoughts on next year.

GW Hamilton Cutter Cup Results

2024

Homecoming Parade and Float

2024 Homecoming was back to October this year and the students continued the long traditions of providing a float for the parade. It was a beautiful evening and those participating are always impressed with the reception from the towns people. This always warms my heart.

See past floats on below link.

Homecoming Floats

2024-2025 Student Scholarship Winners

MSU Turf students have a long history of earning scholarship awards and recognition 2024 continued a strong showing.

Golf Course Superintendents Association of America

Allan MacCurrach Award

Andrew Dorland

GCSAA Scholarships

Trenton Bortnichak

Joe Wilczynski

Matthew Brown

Sports Fields Managers Association

James Watson Award

Trisin Ziola

Samuel I. Russell Foundation Awards

Colin Hersh

Joshua Higgs

Trans–Miss Golf Association Turfgrass Scholarships

Tyler Hild

Trent Bortnichak

Tyler Warren

Anthony Lalonde

American Society Golf Course Architects Wadsworth Scholarship

Grant Keift

Caveman Construction Scholarship

Tyler Hild

Michigan Turfgrass Foundation Scholarships

Norman W. Kramer Outstanding Student Award

Addison Donahue

Kenyon T. Payne Outstanding Student Award

Anthony Lalonde

Robert Hancock Award

Trent Bortnichak

Sports and Commercial Turf Award

Tristin Ziola

Shanty Creek Resort—Superintendent as Executive Award

Glenn Schweihofer

MTFMerit Scholar Award

Isobelle Brasher

Michigan State University Scholarships

Haland Mark Vogler Scholarship

Joe Zimmerlee

Mackenzie Hanselman

Tuck and Becky Tate Scholarship

Tyler Hild

Tyler Warren

Matt McDonald

Charles and Frances Osterman Scholarship

Lucas Courtemanche

Zack Flink

Jack Judge

Joshua Kares

Grant Kieft

Seth Knutson

Billy Olsen Family Scholarship

Owen Adams

James & Harriett Beard Outstanding Turfgrass Graduate Student

Jackie Guevara

Ryan Bearss

Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association

Isobelle Brasher

Andrew Dorland

Tyler Hild

Maxum Verleye

Michigan Sports Field Managers Association

Tristin Ziola

London Kamstra

If you would like to drop a line to any of these winners, just contact me and I will happily give you their contact information. (Several of you know I have notified you in the past on these activities, and that will continue next year as we are in a transition period with our database.)

Past Scholarship Recipients

Family Update - December 2024

Quite a year of growth for the grandkids. Miles,4,

Harrison, 2.5, Louis, 2, and Mila, 3.

2024 marked the first year in the decade we did not add to our family. What will 2025 bring?

MSU Turfgrass Alumni Network Survey and Map

This survey and map were started back at the beginning of 2024. The information gathered from this survey updates the existing MSU Turfgrass alumni database and develop the 'MSU Turfgrass Alumni Network Map'. This public interactive online map was created to showcase the global impact of MSU Turfgrass alumni and facilitate connections among current students, alumni and the general public. As of today, there are 265 on the list.

Many thanks to Jackie Guevara and Dr. Becky Bowling, University of Tennessee, for her guidance and help on this.

Take the Alumini Survey

Once you have completed the survey, your location will appear on the map.

Explore the MSU Turfgrass Alumni Network Map

See the Alumni map

We have plenty of room for students in 2025

If you have someone who is interested for Fall 2025, please have them get in contact with me. We have lots of good things happening, including WC 2026.

Learn more about Turf Programs

Turfgrass Alumni

Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences

Plant and Soil Sciences Building

1066 Bogue Street, Room A160

East Lansing, MI 48824

Phone: 517-355-0271 ext. 1136

Fax: 517-432-2428

Alumni E-mail: turfgras@msu.edu

Trey Rogers E-mail:rogersj@msu.edu

Michigan State University Turfgrass Alumni | 1066 Bogue Street Room 160A PSSB | East Lansing, MI 48824 US

Return to Previous Page