LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 15, 2025) — In celebration of University of Kentucky alumnus Bill Roark’s retirement, Starfish Holdings is investing in future scientists with a $50,000 gift to establish an endowed scholarship in his name.

The Bill Roark Endowed Science Scholarship will support students pursuing degrees in scientific disciplines — students, like Roark, who are driven by curiosity, perseverance and purpose. The endowment will be housed in UK’s College of Arts and Sciences, where Roark earned his master’s degree from the Department of Physics and Astronomy in 1984.

“We are honored to endow a scholarship at the University of Kentucky in Bill’s name,” said John Watson, CEO of Starfish Holdings. “Bill has always believed in investing in the future and giving back to strengthen our communities. He has also been an industry leader in advocating for long-term employee-ownership of companies. We believe that this endowed scholarship reflects both of these passions by providing back to the community now and for the years to come.”

Roark, a Leslie County, Kentucky native and graduate of the University of the Cumberlands, with a master’s degree from the University of Kentucky, is the founder of Starfish Holdings, the parent company of Torch Technologies, a Huntsville, Alabama-based company focused on defense, space and cybersecurity, and Freedom Real Estate & Capital, LLC, a full-service commercial real estate firm. Throughout his career, Roark has been a passionate advocate for employee ownership and long-term investment in people and communities. These values are central to his leadership philosophy — and the subject of his 2024 book, “Built With Purpose.”

Joe Brill, a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, advised and conducted research with Roark while he completed his master’s degree in 1984. Brill recalls how this work helped kickstart both his and Roark’s professional careers. 

“We discovered that a new class of materials soften when a small voltage is applied to them, a discovery which culminated in a paper in the very prominent journal, Physical Review Letters, initiating a three-decade-long line of NSF-funded research in my lab,” Brill said. “Bill, on the other hand, embarked on a career in aerospace/defense R&D companies. This generous gift to UK in his honor will enable other students from Eastern Kentucky, just like Bill, to pursue their dreams to contribute to society through careers in science.”

Roark has over 30 years of Department of Defense-related experience. As CEO of Torch, Roark guided the organization to national recognition as one of Forbes’ Small Giants in the America’s Best Small Companies list and Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top 100 Fastest Growing Companies in America. Among countless other awards, Torch was recognized 15 consecutive years on the Inc. 5000 list. Roark’s retirement marks the close of a remarkable chapter, and this scholarship ensures his legacy will continue to inspire.