Mount Pisgah Christian School’s Billy Kennerly has a dream to one day play on the PGA Tour. Mount Pisgah is helping Kennerly reach his dream through its new IQuest Program.

“IQuest is a condensed day program designed for students to pursue a passion outside of the academic day,” Dr. Bryan Smyth, who oversees the IQuest program, said. “It is for students who need a level of training that takes up an inordinate amount of time during the day.”

Students who may otherwise be home schooled while pursuing dreams of golf, tennis, equestrian, gymnastics, acting or other passions now have a high school environment they can call home.

“The program still has the rigorous academics Mount Pisgah’s college preparatory curriculum offers, but it gives the flexibility for travel and schedules. It also brings the student into a Christian school environment where they can interact socially with their peers, attend proms and football games,” Smyth, Director of the IMPACT Program, said.

The IQuest Program includes all core classes and allows students to stay on tack for graduation. Students will attend school from 8-12:30, then be free to chase their dreams. Most courses will be taught in a small class setting to allow for flexibility and intensive teaching. Students will take some classes, such as a lab oriented science class, in a traditional setting.

This program is unique to the Atlanta area according to Smyth. “I do not know of anybody doing a program like this in this area.”

“I’m excited about the program,” Kennerly said. “I’m looking forward to getting the golf course earlier. I think the program will help me reach my goal of playing on tour because it will allow me to have more time to be able to do what I want to do.”

“Once we lose daylight savings time, it’s really hard to get a round or a good practice in after school,” said Billy’s father, Keith Kennerly. “By getting out of school earlier Billy will be on par with the kids he is playing in tournaments against.”

During the summer Billy plays about three tournaments a month. During the school year he plays in 1-2 a month. Most of the other competitors are home schooled, allowing them the flexibility to travel and get on the course for practice.

“We planned on home schooling him. He’s been asking to be home schooled for two years,” Billy’s mother, Lin Kennerly said. “He’s a different child. I wanted to go to school to see my friends, but all Billy wants to do is be on the golf course. His friends are his golf friends. That’s just Billy.”

According to Keith, the family had hired someone to home school Billy, but after talking to college coaches were concerned about what his grades would mean.

“He may get an A in science, but what has he really learned?” Keith asked. “Now we get the best of both worlds, he can get out of school at 12:30, but is still in an accredited program and he will get what he needs academically.”