Scholarships & Awards 
Within this section you will find opportunities that have been made available to students wishing to apply. For each of the scholarships and awards listed a electronic application is required to be completed.  Application link can be found below and within each Award Summary.  Note:  Students applying for scholarship must be MTF Student Members.  There is no charge for Student Membership.  Registering for membership can be done on the MTF website.

Norman W. Kramer Scholar Award
Norman Kramer was the Golf Course Superintendent of Point O' Woods Country Club in Benton Harbor , Michigan from 1959 to 1971. Prior to this he was Vice President of the Midwest Association of Golf Course Superintendents. In Michigan he served as Director, Vice President and President of the Western Michigan GCSA and Michigan GCSA. He was also a Past President of the Midwest Regional Turf Foundation at Purdue University . At the time of his death, he was serving as a Director of the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation. Mr. Kramer was active in promoting the scholarship programs at Michigan State University and believed strongly in the youth of America . This award is dedicated to the memory of Norm Kramer. 

Robert Hancock Award
Robert Hancock, from Jackson , Michigan , was owner and President of Hancock Industries. He was an avid golfer and served on the Greens Committee at Jackson Country Club. In the late 60's, he became involved in golf turf programs and realized the need for research money in this field. At his death in the late 70's, a portion of his estate was reserved for the financing of the proposed turfgrass Research Center at MSU. In 1979 the construction began and in 1981 the Robert Hancock Turfgrass Research Center was opened. The HTRC is a first class research and education facility used not only by students and faculty but by the industry as well. 

Kenyon Payne Award
Kenyon T. Payne was Chairperson of the Department of Crop Science until 1969 when he took over the Two Year Ag. Tech Program for Golf Turfgrass Management. While there he worked with Professor Beard to get the program on solid ground. Approximately 800 students have graduated under Dr. Payne's leadership. He was an avid supporter of excellent golf turf and did work on breeding Red Fescue resistance to Leaf Spot disease. Dr. Payne also served as treasurer of the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation for a number of years and was very well known in the University and in the industry nationwide. In his honor, what was the Outstanding Student Award, was renamed the Kenyon T. Payne Outstanding Student Award. 

Sports and Commercial Turf Award
In 1987, MSU and the MTF recognized the importance of the lawn care industry in Michigan and the benefits of increasing its number of well-educated turf managers. To this end, Mr. Walter Wilkie, owner of the Toro Distributor in Pontiac and the Bare Foot Lawn franchises in Michigan, funded the startup of the Lawn Care Management Program in MSU's Institute of Agricultural Technology. A similar need by the sports turf industry was recognized in 1992 when its name was changed to the Lawn Care/Athletic Turf Program and then again in 1997 when it became the Sports and Commercial Turf Management Program. Recognized nationally as the only one of its kind, the program continues to graduate outstanding students, many of whom have gone on to become well known and successful leaders in their respective industries. 

SAE Scholarship Award

Shanty Creek Resort is a four seasons resort in Bellaire Michigan. SCR recognizes the variety of skills that turf management graduates possess- agronomy, human resources, equipment operation and maintenance, financial analysis and budgeting, irrigation, construction, etc. We are looking to the future of not only the resort industry but more specific the development in the education of young turf management students. We believe that the skill set that most turf graduates possess lend to a greater potential in the abilities to adapt, problem solve and persevere in an array of situations.

The Superintendents As Executives (SAE) scholarship will be awarded to a student that not only excels in the turf management program but also show an interest in a secondary concentration in business or a related field. The goal of this scholarship is to reward-students who show the aptitude and ambition to grow in our industry in leadership positions beyond turf management. SCR wants to inspire future turf graduates to progress into positions as Directors of Agronomy, General Managers and Executives.

Michigan Turfgrass Foundation Scholarship Award Selection Process

Scholarship Applications may be submitted electronically.  Link below.

Applications for the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation Scholarship Awards must be electronically submitted no later than December 4th, 2024 . 

Application will include:  application form, cover letter, resume, scholarship questionnaire answers, and letters of recommendation. 

A schedule of interviews will be posted in the Plant & Soil Science Building.  Exact location, time, and date of interviews will be listed. Student is responsible for time and date. Any changes must be made in advance of interviews.

Questions may also be directed to the MTF: miturfgrass@gmail.com / or Dan Lucas (Chairman of Scholarships) at:  dlucas1662@gmail.com

Applicant interviews will take place:  December 2024 - Location:  TBD

Awards will be presented at the 94th Michigan Turfgrass Conference being held January 7-9, 2025 at the Soaring Eagle Casino, Mt. Pleasant in Mt. Pleasant, MI.  Award winners will be notified of exact date of presentation. 

Students are requested to participate as MTF members. Student memberships can register on the MTF website and are made available at no charge to students.  

Previous winners are not eligible to reapply for the same award.

Scholarship Application below:

Electronic Scholarship Application



For questions regarding the awards, please contact:
Dan Lucas, MTF BOD
dlucas1662@gmail.com