Searn McGorisk: Gaining skills to excel in field

April 4, 2018

Sean McGorisk just graduated with his certificate in golf course turfgrass management from MSU and now he’s headed to Iowa and the next step in his career.

“It was an easy decision to come to school at MSU,” McGorisk, who has already lined up a job as assistant superintendent of a Des Moines country club, said. “Everyone I’ve worked for in the industry said they valued this institution and the education they received here.”

In the long-term, McGorisk hopes to become superintendent, and eventually general manager, of a country club, and credits his MSU education as a crucial stepping stone to achieving his dream.

“I always knew I wanted to go into the golf industry,” McGorisk said. “MSU gave me the tools and management skills, as well as the scientific background, to excel in it.”

The MSU Institute of Agricultural Technology graduated its 124th class of 175 students on March 25. The IAT is the third largest unit in the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, with interest and enrollment increasing 11 percent over the last academic year and 32 percent in the last three years.

Founded in 1894, the IAT delivers innovative, educational programs that develop career-ready graduates through intensive, practical learning and skill enhancement in agricultural, environmental and applied technologies. 

Certificate programs can be completed in three to four semesters. They are offered on MSU’s campus in East Lansing and in partnership with several Michigan community colleges.

“Our certificate programs are highly respected statewide and nationally, and several have international reputations,” said Randy Showerman, director of IAT. “Classes are taught by faculty and staff in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, so students gain from the research and extension programs at Michigan State University. IAT students are considered – and truly are – Spartans.”

With more than 474 students in certificate programs around the state, Showerman attributed the enrollment rise to a couple of factors.

“We have more relationships with community colleges around the state. IAT has partnered with ten colleges – and we’re in the process of adding more – to offer these certificate programs in students’ communities,” Showerman said. “There is also a great need, in Michigan and around the country, for a skilled workforce in the agriculture industry.”

IAT programs afford students opportunities to work with cutting-edge technologies, equipping them to thrive in changing industry landscapes.

For the last two years, IAT has collaborated with faculty at Northwestern Michigan College to provide students with training in the use of unmanned aircraft systems, an emerging technology in both agriculture and turfgrass management.

“Drones are set to make a significant impact in our industry,” McGorisk said. “Being able to work on them at this early stage gave me valuable knowledge I wouldn’t have been able to get somewhere else.”

For students like McGorisk, earning a certificate from IAT has allowed him to hit the ground running.

“Everything you do in IAT is geared toward the field you’re going into,” McGorisk said. “So much of it is hands-on, and all the programs have internship opportunities that really help prepare you for your career. It’s been a great experience.”

Written by James Dau, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Read the entire article