MOOSE JAW — Four young women are heading into post-secondary studies with an extra boost this year, thanks to the “Women Fore Women” scholarship program hosted by the Hillcrest Ladies Golf League.
Each recipient has been awarded a $5,000 scholarship to support their academic and athletic pursuits at the university or trade school level — and with one more student athlete potentially joining the roster this fall, it could mark the highest total awarded by the group since the program’s inception.
“To date, we’ve given out just over $50,000 in scholarships,” said Deb Negraiff, chair of the scholarship committee. “We started with one $500 scholarship. This year, we’re awarding four $5,000 scholarships, and we may add a fifth scholarship this fall,” depending on whether or not that student makes the swim team in Victoria, B.C.
The program is designed to support high-performance female athletes from Moose Jaw who are continuing to compete in their sport at the post-secondary level. The selection process considers not only athletic achievement but also leadership, community involvement, and academic effort.
“They have to be good students, high-performance athletes, and they need to show that they’re giving back — whether that’s through coaching or mentoring,” Negraiff explained. “They also write an essay that addresses all those points.”
The funding comes from the annual Women Fore Women golf tournament, hosted each August at the Hillcrest Golf Course. This year’s event will be held on Aug. 9 with a 10 a.m. shotgun start. Tournament chair Cheryl Templeton said the event has become one of the most popular in the city, often attracting a waiting list.
“It’s $130 for non-members and $110 for members,” said Templeton. “We usually have about 100 golfers, and we can’t thank our sponsors enough. The business community in Moose Jaw has been incredible.”
Among this year’s recipients is Central Collegiate graduate Katie Rogers, a standout in both track and field and cross-country.
“Our track team was able to win provincials as a team all four years, and in cross-country we did it twice,” said Rogers. “I’ve gathered 12 medals while running for Central, and I’m really happy to have been able to represent the school and to have won the scholarship. It’ll be very helpful on my journey down to the States.”
Rogers is headed to the University of North Dakota to study biology with a focus on professional health sciences, while continuing to compete in NCAA-level running.
“Living on campus is very pricey, so this $5,000 is definitely making an impact,” she said. “My parents are definitely very thankful for it.”
Fellow Central student Mykenzie Shymko, a longtime lacrosse player, also received a scholarship. She’s heading to McKendree University in Illinois to study sport science and exercise performance.
“I’ve been playing lacrosse for 11 years now,” said Shymko. “This scholarship is a big help for all the extra expenses like dorms, food, and travel. I’m just super grateful for women supporting women, and them being on our side and helping us out as much as they can.”
Rogers and Shymko were joined by Ellah Flanagan, a basketball player from Central Collegiate, and Leoncia White, an archery competitor from Vanier Collegiate.
For more information on the Women Fore Women tournament and scholarship program, visit HillcrestGolf.ca or call the Hillcrest Golf Club at 306-693-1921.
