By Marcell Hill
Battling Bulletin Student Writer
Sean Kearney has taken the skills he learned in the Turf Management program at the Golf Course at Glen Mills and is currently an assistant superintendent at the historical and prestigious Nassau County Club in Glen Cove, New York.
After graduating from Glen Mills in 2008, Kearney was accepted into the Two Year Golf Course Turfgrass Management Program at Penn State University and successfully completed an internship at Merion Golf Club where he had the chance to help the venerable club prepare for the Walker Cup.
Kearney, who grew up on Staten Island in New York and in the Pocono region of Pennsylvania, developed into an all around student here at Glen Mills. As well as earning a Glen Mills diploma, Kearney received a GED, earned an advanced certificate in the Turf Management program, excelled on the swimming, baseball, and golf teams, and much more. He also showed his leadership skills by serving as a unit executive and as a student counselor. As a result, he earned the Glen Mills and Director’s scholarships to cover the majority of his educational expenses.
After graduating from Glen Mills, Kearney worked at the Golf Course at Glen Mills while he waited to begin classes at Penn State. Golf Course at Glen Mills Superintendant John Vogts, who along with his staff, taught Kearney the ins and outs of turf management, recommended Kearney and played an integral role in helping him gain acceptance into Penn State’s top notch program. Kearney knew he was well-prepared for Penn State.
“John and the rest of the golf course staff made their best effort to teach me everything they could to prepare me,” Kearney said.
Vogts is not the least bit surprised at his success.
“I’m not surprised that Sean is doing well,” Vogts said. “He is very self-motivated and picks up jobs readily. He has great determination and he’s been able to stay away from the negative influences that can sometimes get in the way.”
After working at another high end club, Fisher’s Island, Kearney was ready to undertake the assistant superintendant job at Nassau Country Club.
Before coming to Glen Mills, Kearney never aspired to much but the former student counselor and unit executive was quick to listen to the advice and guidance from Vogts and many others at Glen Mills. The talented young man, who still keeps in contact with some staff members at the school, also had some great advice for current Glen Mills students.
“I only wish that every Glen Mills student could look at what I have done and realize that they can do it too if they put forth the effort,” Kearney, who was featured on a segment on “Golf in America” on the Golf Channel, said. “Take advantage of every opportunity that is given to you at Glen Mills and get involved with everything you can. Hopefully, you’ll find something that you really like or are really good at. Some people will tell you not to look at your past but I look at it every day. It’s the fuel that keeps me going.”
It’s fueled him all the way to Glen Cove, New York- and into a position he really enjoys.