“My first career wasn’t fun anymore,” said Navarre, a student in MSU’s two-year Turfgrass Management Golf Course Program.

While working on a golf course for about seven summers throughout high school and college, Navarre said he really enjoyed his experience, but his parents discouraged the idea of turning this interest into a practical career choice.

“I’ve always had a little bit of regret about not doing it, so I decided to go back and give it a shot,” Navarre said.

Navarre began taking classes at MSU in 2013, and he plans on earning his certificate in turf management by next March.

From the very beginning, Navarre said he has been truly impressed with the well-designed courses, the outstanding professors that truly want their students to succeed, and the other encouraging students in the program.

“The cooperation and camaraderie is something I didn’t see my first time around in school,” Navarre said.

At the end of the summer, Navarre’s commitment towards pursuing a second career in turf management was validated when he won the Mendenhall Award in the 2014 Scholars Competition. The award was presented by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), of which he is a member.

Among 14 other awards that were presented, Navarre won the top award consisting of $6,000 and an all-expense paid trip to the 2015 Golf Industry Show in San Antonio during the week of February 23.

“It’s nice to have the hard work I put in rewarded,” Navarre said. “It’s also a big help financially, that’s for certain.”

In the future, Navarre said he hopes to work on a golf course somewhere in Washtenaw County, where he can establish his new career without having to move away from his current residency.

“It’s just been so much fun,” Navarre said. “I’m happy to be here and I’m proud to be a Spartan after all these years.”