First Yuill Foundation Golf Classic tees up opportunities for Prairie Rose students

Courier/Commentator Photos submitted by Angela Baron golf tourney: PRPS students from several academy programs, including South Alberta Hockey Academy and the South Alberta Flight Academy, were on hand during the golf tournament to carry bags, assist with setup and help our wherever they were needed.

Submitted by Prairie Rose Public Schools

The Desert Blume Golf Course was filled with energy and community spirit on September 11 as the Yuill Family Foundation hosted its inaugural Golf Classic. The event brought together golfers, sponsors, and local supporters for a day of premier golf and philanthropy, raising funds for Prairie Rose Public Schools (PRPS) and the Western Canada Professional Hockey Scouts Foundation (WCPHS).

Organizers said Prairie Rose was a natural choice for the tournament’s first year, pointing to the division’s focus on innovative programming. “We really like the work that Prairie Rose is doing, and that they’re answering the call of what this community needs and what southeastern Alberta requires,” explained Cori Cuthbertson, administrator of the Yuill Family Foundation. “Kids are coming out of here with real, tangible skills, and I think they’re making school fun again.”

That impression was reinforced when Yuill Foundation board members toured the division’s specialized academies earlier this year. Advisory committee member Heather Lemeshuk said seeing programs in aviation, hockey, and baseball firsthand made a lasting impact. “Preparing students for future employment at the high school level is an initiative that’s thinking outside the box, and we give great praise to the management of the school district,” she said.

For Prairie Rose, the recognition was both humbling and exciting. Superintendent Reagan Weeks said the support will go a long way in strengthening opportunities for students. “Prairie Rose is one of the fortunate recipients from the proceeds of this tournament, and we are truly grateful for the Foundation’s belief in our students and programs.”

Proceeds will support the division’s growing academies in aviation, agriculture, hockey, baseball, fire, rodeo, and trades, each designed to provide students with hands-on skills and pathways to success after graduation.