The Work Kinda Grows on You

For most college students, summer jobs are a necessary evil. But three students got to spend their summer cutting grass and rubbing shoulders with Donovan McNabb, Ray Lewis and other National Football League and Major League Baseball players for college credit, thanks to an internship program in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.

As seniors majoring in turfgrass science at Penn State, Nathan Bickerstaff of Monaca, Aaron Fineberg of State College and Kyle Slaton of Bath spent the summer working full time and subsequently completing a research project based on their experiences. As products of one of the nation's top programs in the care and development of grasses, soils and landscaping, Penn State turfgrass science students are coveted by top-tier golf courses and pro sports teams. So, while they do their fair share of hard work, they have the opportunity to combine their favorite loves: sports and the outdoors. And they enjoy some special perks that you don't get delivering pizza.

A typical day for Fineberg, who interned with the Philadelphia Eagles, included mowing stadium and practice fields, and inspecting the turf for disease. He had the opportunity to meet several Eagles players and coaches including Donovan McNabb, Hugh Douglas, David Akers, Brian Westbrook, Jevon Kearse, Jeremiah Trotter, Lito Sheppard and Andy Reid.

Fineberg helped to apply pesticides and fertilizer and to water and seed the fields. He also helped with equipment maintenance. "I like being hands-on with all of the duties and responsibilities that a head superintendent would be in charge of," he says. "There is nothing I didn't like about my internship."

Fineberg had similar feelings about entering turfgrass science. "I love being outdoors and getting dirty—not to mention my love for sports—so majoring in turfgrass science with a focus on athletic facilities seemed like the perfect job."

During his second summer job with the Milwaukee Brewers, Slaton was allowed to take batting practice from one of the Brewers' coaches before a game, and saw numerous celebrity players, including Sammy Sosa, Derek Jeter and Greg Maddox. He also met Bud Selig and saw Jon Bon Jovi, Tara Reid and other artists at Miller Park for Miller Brewing's 150th anniversary celebration.

When Slaton worked night games with the Milwaukee Brewers, his day started at 9 A.M. and sometimes didn't end until 11 P.M. On nongame days, the hours were fewer and the schedule varied. "My life basically revolves around sports," he says. "I always dreamed of becoming a professional ballplayer and since I'm not going to do that, I enjoy having the opportunity to be part of professional sports."

Bickerstaff always knew he would be doing something with grass. He has worked for a family-owned landscaping business since he was 11. While interning with the Baltimore Ravens, he worked at Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium, the team's Owing Mills practice facility and the training camp at McDaniel College in Westminster. He helped renovate and mow fields, perform synthetic-field maintenance and erect new goal posts.

"I enjoyed working in the NFL for a world-class organization," says Bickerstaff. "The Ravens treated me very well, and I worked with good people." He put in long days, some up to 14 hours, but enjoyed them. "I also liked working the practices and interacting with the team during mini camps, eating lunch with them and helping out with some of their drills. This made my internship not just about grass but about everything dealing with professional football."