SportsTurf provides current, practical and technical content on issues relevant to sports turf managers, including facilities managers. Most readers are athletic field managers from the professional level through parks and recreation, universities.
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/126035
Facility&Operations PARTICIPANTS take the STMA's Student Challenge during Conference. Anecdotal evidence shows most 2013 graduates are finding jobs in the turf industry. OKLAHOMA STATE Dr. Greg Bell reports: "We only have one student graduating this spring and I believe that he already has a position waiting for him. In the 15 years that I have been the turfgrass teaching professor here at Oklahoma State we have graduated 132 turf management students and all of those students who were actively pursing a turfgrass position during their last semester have had a position or an offer of a position waiting for them when they graduated. 2013 job market for turf program graduates Editor's note: We asked those in charge of undergraduate turfgrass management programs at universities across the country for reports on whether their students had secured jobs in the industry. Here are the responses we received: DELAWARE VALLEY COLLEGE (PA) Dr. Doug Linde reports: "The only senior that I have that is interested in sports fields is graduating in December 2013 because he took a full semester off to intern with the Philadelphia Eagles (something that is not too common but a great idea if it doesn't lead to any serious issues with finishing the degree in a reasonable time). All of these students have worked on multiple golf courses over three or four summers, which is the main reason they had no trouble landing a full time job after graduation. In fact, I had to advise a few of these students to work less so that they could take full advantage of their opportunity to get a degree. "Since Del Val is located so close to many golf courses, it's common for students to hold a part-time job during the semester. I usually recommend they not work during the semester since they essentially have a full-time job in 8 SportsTurf | May 2013 going to college. Many have also worked or volunteered at pro tournaments. "Here are the May 2013 Del Val College turf management bachelor of science degree graduates, 100% of whom had jobs secured by January 2013 for starting work in May; (Kelly, Ridington, and Taylor are on our NCAA D III golf team that I coach. In fact, this year eight of the 10 players on the team are also my advisees since they are studying turf management.):" • James Bryson, assistant-in-training, Merion GC • Kevin Keezer, assistant supt., Bear Trap Dunes GC, MD • Tim Kelly, assistant supt., Manasquan CC, NJ • Jesse Ridington, graduate intern, Saucon Valley CC • Kevin Taylor, graduate intern, Oak Hill CC, NY RUTGERS UNIVERSITY Dr. Bruce Clarke reported that Yuanshuo (Henry) Qu, a turf undergraduate student within the Department of Plant Biology and Pathology, received the "Plant Science Excellence Award" for 2013. This award is given to the undergraduate student in Plant Science with the highest GPA. Henry's GPA is 3.8. Five Rutgers students will graduate in May or next fall. Erik Taylor, Jay Ewan starting an assistants position at Merion golf club in Philly after graduation), Tyler Astor, Henry Qu will be working the summer at Plainfield CC in NJ as an intern), and Kevin Rundstrom working at Hidden Creek golf club, near Atlantic City, as an assistant. KIRKWOOD COMMUNITY COLLEGE (IA) Troy McQuillen, turf instructor, reports: "Here are some statistics from my graduating class. I currently have 45 full-time students enrolled in the 2-year Golf Course and Athletic Turfgrass Management Program. These students will complete a total of 68 credit hours earning them an A.A.S degree (Associates of Applied Science)." These students will be returning back for a 2nd year: Eight 1st year students pursuing both golf and sports turf local internships; 12 1st year students pursuing both golf and sports turf out-of-state internships; and four 1st year students taking full-time summer classes and will pursue an internship later. Of the students receiving degrees, nine www.sportsturfonline.com