Reading
Environment
Young Adult
Sports and Games
I read books multiple times per month
Avery Boonie
775
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FinalistAvery Boonie
775
Bold Points1x
FinalistBio
I am on the varsity golf team at my high school. Over the summer I was chosen to go on a trip to study the geology of western America. This was a three-week long course that my school gives credit for.
Education
Hudsonville High School
High SchoolMiscellaneous
Desired degree level:
Bachelor's degree program
Majors of interest:
- Agricultural Business and Management
Career
Dream career field:
turf management
Dream career goals:
Sports
Softball
Junior Varsity2014 – 20228 years
Golf
Varsity2019 – Present5 years
Future Interests
Volunteering
Philanthropy
Ray W Bausick Green Industry Memorial Scholarship
By the time you are a junior in high school, people are always asking, “what do you want to do after high school?” For me, I tried to avoid this question at all costs. How is a 16-year-old supposed to know what they want to do with their life when they are 50? The only two things I knew that I wanted for my future were to not have an office job, and do something with science. Growing up, I wanted to be a marine biologist. I could spend my days outside studying and interacting with plants and animals. This seemed like the perfect job for me until I remembered that I do not like being on boats or swimming with fish.
Entering the second semester of my junior year, I was at the wedding of my neighbor growing up. After many degree changes, he settled on turf management. His goal was to become a superintendent of a PGA golf course. With very little thought, I knew this would be a good career path for me. This career path would allow me to continue making an impact on the environment. I would be able to spend my days outside and study environmental science. During this same school year, I took the advanced placement environmental science class offered at my school. This class taught me how I could make an impact on the environment. We focus on the effects of carbon dioxide on living and non-living factors. My goal as a superintendent would be to better the relationship between golfers and nature. My passion for environmental science and being a woman in a male-dominated field would allow me to bring up different sides of arguments that might not have been brought up by other superintendents.
Out of the 32,722 golf course superintendents employed in the United States, only 6.8 percent of them are women. I dream of the day I can say I am part of the 6.8 percent. In the state of Michigan, there are two colleges that have a turf management program. With my options limited, I was forced to look outside my home state to pursue my passion. Western Kentucky was recommended to me by a family friend, and when I visited campus, I knew this could be my home for the next four years. Receiving a scholarship would ease the decision to move 7.5 hours away from home to become part of the 6.8 percent.