Nicole McFadyen – Mary Pickersgill Award 2016

A native of New Castle, Delaware, Ms. McFadyen graduated from the University of Delaware with a degree in agriculture. She worked for several golf courses in Delaware and with the University of Delaware’s Research and Education Center.

After serving as the Orioles’ assistant head groundskeeper from 2001 through 2003, Nicole spent three seasons (2004-2006) as the head groundskeeper for the Eastern League’s Trenton Thunder, Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. She was the first female head groundskeeper in Eastern League history when she was named to that post in February 2004, and twice was runner-up for the Eastern League’s top groundskeeping award.

The start of the 2016 season will be Nicole’s 10th as the Orioles’ head groundskeeper. She returned to the Orioles organization in 2007 after a three-year absence, becoming just the second woman ever to serve as Head Groundskeeper with a Major League team.

Outside of her groundskeeper duties Nicole speaks to youth and other audiences interested in agriculture and grounds maintenance. During her 10-year tenure as Orioles Head Groundskeeper, she has inspired increasing numbers of female students to intern with her grounds crew.