RAMS Bursary Recipients & Info

  RAMS  Award Bursaries at Annual Golf Tournament         

 

On June 19th under sunny skies at Legends Golf Course The Sherwood Park Rams  Football Bantam Club awarded fifteen players cheques of $900 each in recognition of the players’ past contributions to the team to

assist them with a part of the cost of their post secondary education. Cheques totaling $13,500 were awarded to the following former Rams:

Jordan Allers (Education- University of Wales)

Cam Argue (Arts and Science- University of Saskatchewan)

Blair Barzeele (Business- NAIT)

Justin Barzeele (Business- NAIT)

Christian Brown (Arts- University of Alberta)

Chris Chmilar (Computer Science- U of A)

Nate Curtis (Engineering- U of A)

Bennet Draganiuk (Engineering Information Technology- NAIT)

Mark Gmeinweiser (Education- Grant McEwan)

Duncan Hankinson (Arts/Commerce- U of A)

Adam Hawthorne (Engineering Technology- NAIT)

Darcy Hinds (Arts and Science – U of S)

Korey Johnson (Power Engineering- NAIT)

Ryan Meraw (Heating/Air Conditioning- SAIT)

Taylor Paulson (Risk Management- Concordia College)

“I am very grateful to the Rams for helping me today” stated Jordan Allers, a former defensive end with the 1999 Provincial Champion Rams “I am going to school in Wales to be a teacher and play rugby- my other love-  and every dollar helps” added Allers who is also a present member of the Canadian Rugby team. Short speeches by Duncan Hankinson and Jamie Olsen were also part of the program when the cheques were presented.

     “This year’s tournament was one of the most successful ever held” said tournament chair Shelly Samoil. “We saw 156 golfers participate with prizes, contests , food and fun for all. We are grateful to all our sponsors. There are just too many to mention her but  the Rams took out an ad in the Sherwood Park News last week to acknowledge and thank  them” Samoil added.

This marks the ninth anniversary of this tournament and Head Coach Jim Skitsko says that it is here to stay. “We are so proud of our organization for having the vision to see what this could become. Over the nine years, we have literally become the little team that could- we just keep chugging along! “

“The Rams stress that an education is literally the best investment you can ever make in yourself and we are proud to be a small part of these fine young people’s future” the head coach added. “We all know that  one day, when your on field skills leave you, your education will be one of the major assets that remains in your life. That is why we stress to the kids in the locker room: “Football is fun-Education is forever!”

Next year’s chair Rhonda Newman is looking forward to her tenure to ensure that the tenth anniversary of the golf tournament remains an unqualified success. “The past chairpersons of this committee have left big shoes to fill but I am looking forward to the challenge of next year!” she stated.

 

 

Rams making degrees of difference

Shane Jones 

News Staff
Friday May 02, 2008

Jim Skitsko considers it one of the Sherwood Park Rams’ biggest accomplishments.

And he isn’t referring to the six bantam football championships the team has won or the almost five-year long streak of 57 games in a row without a loss that ended last season.

He’s just as stoked about the Rams bursary program.

This year the Rams have truly outdone themselves, awarding an impressive 16 bursaries to former players, totaling $14,400 in financial assistance to help with the rising cost of obtaining an education.

Skitsko, the Rams head coach since the inception of the bursary program, is thrilled to see the program able to assist so many former players.

“It was a red-letter day for our organization,” he said. “They are getting $900 each. It’s awesome, it really is. The growth of this program has been nothing less than phenomenal. The program was spearheaded by three people with a vision, Milt Ness, Doug Ford and Terry Haunn, who worked tirelessly to get the program rolling.”


And rolling along it is.

This year marks the ninth anniversary of the Rams bursary program and with the announcement of these 16 players, brings the total to 63 bursaries awarded in that time. The program is funded by the Rams golf tournament held in June of each year.

Skitsko said the concept has come a long way.

“First there is an idea,” he said. “Then you plant the seed. And then you hope the tree grows. Our bursary tree is really starting to branch out now and is showing it is successful. Now that it appears to have taken total solid roots, you have all the believers. When you see the ones that we helped when we first started successful in the work force now, that makes you feel really good.”

Awarded bursaries this season are former players;
Jordan Allers (’98,’99) University of Wales – Educational Studies, Cam Argue (’03) U of Saskatchewan – Arts & Science, Blair Barzeele (’99,’00) N.A.I.T. – Business, Justin Barzeele (’00,’01) N.A.I.T. – Business, Christian Brown (’03) U of Alberta – Arts, Chris Chmilar (’02,’03) U of Alberta – Computer Science, Nate Curtis (’02,’03) U of Alberta – Engineering, Mark Gmeinweiser (’03) Grant McEwan – Education, Duncan Hankinson (’02,’03) U of Alberta – Arts/Commerce, Adam Hawthorne (’03,’04) N.A.I.T. – Engineering Tech., Darcy Hinds (’03) U of Saskatchewan – Arts & Science, Korey Johnson (’01,’02) N.A.I.T. – Power Engineering, Dustin MacDonald (’01,’02) N.A.I.T. – Power Engineering, Ryan Meraw (’01,’02) S.A.I.T. – Heat/Air Conditioning, Taylor Paulson (’03) Concordia – Risk Management and Brett Raftis (’03,’04) U of Alberta – Phys Ed/Education.
Hankinson, a 2002 and 2003 alumnus, recalls his time with the team.

“I remember the banner in the locker room that said ‘Football is Fun – Education is Forever’ and here I am, receiving a bursary to help me with the cost of school,” he said.

“I really appreciate it. My time with the Rams was special, that’s for sure.”

The Rams will now get to work funding bursaries for the next batch of players with their 10th annual golf tournament slated for June 19 at Legends Golf Course. Those interested in taking part are urged to contact Shelly Samoil at 702-4151 to reserve a spot.

shanej@sherwoodparknews.com

June 7, 2007

The RAMS are proud to announce the recipients of this year's bursaries. The following seven alumni will receive their bursary cheques totalling  $7650 on June 21 at our 8th annual golf tournament to be held at Legends:

Zach Amyotte- Radio and Television Arts- Saskatoon College

Ian Cuff- Arts and Education- U of A

David Ehrler- Motorcyle Mechanics- Fairview College

Craig Gerbrandt- Mechanical Engineering Technology- N.A.I.T.

Brad Maloney- Science- U of A

Mike Richards- Enginneering- Grant MacEwan

Matt White- Education- Grant MacEwan

In eight seasons, the club has awarded 51 bursaries to Rams alumni who have through post secondary education advanced themselves for a "better life through football". Congratulations to each player and see you on June 21st.

April 12, 2006

The Rams are proud to announce that on June 22, 2006, at our 7th annual golf tournament to be held at Legends, the following TEN alumni will be awarded bursary awards to reward their hard work and educational efforts following their graduation from high school:

Omar Amer - Physical Education- Grant MacEwan

Steve Chase - Science- University of Alberta

Trevor Ford- Arts- Grant MacEwan

Kelly Grabill -Computer Technology- N.A.I.T.

Adam Joy -Engineering- U of A

Amber Kay - Police Studies- Simon Fraser University

Levi Laseur - Heating and Air Conditioning- N.A.I.T.

Nathan Toonen - Education- Grant MacEwan

Trevor Topilko - Carpentry- N.A.I.T.

Ryan Tucker - Engineering- U of A

 

June 23, 2005

The Rams Football Club held its 6th annual bursary golf tournament today. The golf tournament was supported by local businesses and 162 golfers attended making it the most successful tournament to date!

Seven players received a total of $5600 to be used by them for the purposes of advancing their post secondary education. The seven players who received the cheques were:

Chris Bohush (1997,1998)King's College- Psychology;

Brent Dul (1998) U of A-Arts;

Murray Fikowski (1998,1999) U of A- Physical Education;

Jeff Golinowski (1999,2000) Grant MacEwan- Engineering;

Kevin Hammermaster (1999) NAIT- Electricial Technology);

Adam Skitsko (1997,1998)Grant MacEwan-Physical Education

Nathan Warnock (1999,2000) U of Calgary- Arts.

This brings the total of Rams alumni who have received bursary monies to 29 in 6 years.

Four players (pictured below) were able to attend and receive their cheques. The players, pictured left to right, are Jeff Golinowski, Brent Dul, Adam Skitsko and Kevin Hammermaster.

May 21, 2004

Nine More Rams Receive Bursaries

Strathcona County this Week, May 21, 2004 by Joseph Ranger

Rams' Head Coach Jim Skitsko announced the 2004 bursary recipients on Tuesday afternoon.

Ten players are receiving scholarships from their bursary program. with year(s) played with Rams in brackets. They are:

Nathan Bell (1998) enrolled in Education at Concordia;

Dan Bass (1998-1999) Criminology at University of Northern Michigan;

Brad Caron (1998) Mechanics at NAIT;

Aaron Christianson (1996) Education at U of A;

Mike Jespersen (1998) King's College-Science;

Curt Martin (1996) Education U of A;

Erik Ness (1998-1999) Pre-Med Science U of A;

Travis Kemp (1997) Business at NAIT

Jamie Olsen (1999)Commerce at U of A.

Once again the Rams are showing their commitment to their philophy of 'Football is fun-education is forever'. The Rams will be holding their annual bursary fund raiser at Legends Golf Course on June 24. For more information please call Joan Souster at 467-1038.

June 24,2004

Pictured below are the Rams Bursary Winner for 2004. CONGRATULATIONS!

Back row (left to right) Nathan Bell, Mike Jespersen, Brad Caron and Dan Bass Jr.

First Row (left to right) Travis Kemp, Erik Ness and Jamie Olsen

Missing: Aaron Christianson and Curt Martin

Congratulations and continued good luck to these fine young men.

July 4th, 2003

Rams hand out $5,400 in bursaries to former alumni

Strathcona County This Week, by Joseph Ranger

It must be hard to say "no" to Jim Skitsko.

How else to explain the packed house at Legends Golf Course last Thursday afternoon for the Sherwood Park Rams' annual golf tournament.

The event, now in its fourth year, is meant to raise bursary money for former Rams' alumni attending post secondary schools, and also to disperse said funds.

Patrick Smith, Rob Olexson, Matt Lemay, Jason Ewaskiw, Scott Schriver, David Chmelyk, Steve Golko (all from the 1998 Rams' squad), Tim McFadyen and Dan Mantei (both from the 1997 team) were each awarded $600 bursaries at the tournament.

Pictured above (left to right, front row) Scott Shriver, Matt Lemay, Rob Olexson, Pat Smith

Back Row- David Chmelyk and Steve Golko

Among the repeat golfers was former Edmonton Eskimos special teams and running backs coach of three years, Brian Dickinson.

Sporting an eye-catching Eskimos ring, Dickinson jested with former Eskimos' quarterback Tom Wilkinson.

"I played football, coached football on and off for 30 years," said Dickinson. "We support something like this so new guys can continue to play for the Rams for many years. Plus, Jimmy Skitsko phoned me for three years to come and play."

Another notable football presence was Mike McLean, head coach of the Edmonton Huskies, himself a former Eskimo (linebacker, 1987) and a Strathcona County resident of 15 years.

An executive board member couldn't make the trip to Legends, so McLean — a teacher at Archbishop O'Leary — was drafted into action.

"Jim does an awesome job in the community," said McLean. "Because he has success, a lot of kids want to play for him. He is a stand-up guy. There are not a lot of people in the football community you can trust, but Jim is. He is good people."

In addition, several players from Strathcona County/Sherwood Park end up playing McLean's Huskies, the University of Alberta Golden Bears or the Edmonton Wildcats.

"Sherwood Park is the hotbed of football, not only in Alberta, but in Canada," said McLean. "That is why the high school programs are so successful out here. At O'Leary, we are teaching them how to put on equipment."

"Because of Jimmy, and what he is doing, they do such a good job of teaching fundamentals. There is so much respect for the job Jimmy does."

"I am real proud of being involved with this organization. The kids we've been getting are phenomenal."

• Randy Schriver, father of former Ram's lineman Scott Schriver, was a watcher at hole #8. Up for grabs was a very pricey 2003 Chrysler Sebring.

According to Schriver, one golfer hit the ball to within six inches from the pin, just missing out on a hole-in-one

"And it rolled past too, it wasn't short," said Schriver.

• Mike Purpura of Gibbons had one chance to earn both himself and the Rams club a cool $5,000 with one putt — the final shot of the day at Legends.

After qualifying for the final by nailing a 10-foot-putt earlier in the day, his name was drawn for to tee off for $10,000 shot. Purpura, 57, grabbed his off-the-rack Tour Star putter (bought by his kids four or five years ago as a Christmas present) and let rip. The shot, although straight as a tape measure, fell short by three feet.

"I wish I'd hit it just a little bit harder," said Purpura following the shot.

"Don't tell my wife I missed."

 

April 26, 2002

TWO MORE RAMS ALUMNI RECEIVE BURSARIES

Strathcona County This Week, by Joseph Ranger

In keeping with one bantam football team's strong adherence to education, two former players are receiving education bursaries, the second year the Rams team has done so.

The Sherwood Park Rams bantam football club announced former middle linebacker Darcy Bennett and tight end Jordan Kula would be recipients of theis year's Rams' bursary. Both players were members of the 1997 provincial championship team.

"Darcy's had an unbelievable football and academic career since playing for us and Team North and Team Alberta and winning a national championship for Team Alberta last year," said long time Rams' head coach Jim Skitsko.

"He had never played football before joining the Rams in 1996 and was not only a pleasure to coach, but truly an inspiration to watch as he developed into a fantastic football player."

"Jordan (Kula) played one for us in 1997 and won a provincial championship," continued Skitsko. "He was one of those unusual kids because he got to play only one year with us because of his age and his grade and then moved into high school. In that one year he really excelled and became a strong, smart football player. He played tight end for us and always made his blocks and caught passes for us in critical situations on the way to a provincial championship."

"The Rams are very proud to recognize these two outstanding young citizens in our community."

In fact both still live in Sherwood Park while attending courses at the University of Alberta. Kula has just completed his first year of engineering. Next year he begins mechanical engineering.

"I think (the bursary) is great because we had a great team and I think we all have a bond, because we went all the way and won provincials," said Kula. He was originally a lacrosse player when Skitsko found him. "He had been on me for years, because I'd been neighbors with him," said Kula."All that nagging got to me and he got me out there (on the football field). It was awesome!"

Kula continued to play football throughout high school at Archbishop Jordan. He doesn't play football currently because university takes up too much time.

"(Skitsko's) a good coach and a good person. He never had problems with missing practice- school always came first. It was always family and school before football."

Like Kula, Bennett continued football in high school at Salisbury, where he was a linebacker and halfback the first year, before alternating between receiver, running back and linebacker positions. Unlike Kula, Bennett has continued football whle keeping up with his general science studies, playing as a defensive halfback the past season for the University of Alberta Golden Bears.

"I remember Skitsko being a really good coach, he just knew where certain people needed to go, and what positions they needed to play," said Bennett who at 5-foot-ten, 188 pounds, is one of the smallest players on the university field. He says learning football with the bantam Rams helped prepare him for high school, which helped prepare him for university.

"It was a big advantage, you just learn to play the game and learn to grasp the concepts, so when you get to the next level, you're just that far of everyone else," said Bennett- named rookie of the Year last season with the Bears. Future plans for Bennett include attending chiropractic clinic.

Both players expressed gratitude to the Rams organization and in particular Coach Skitkso for helping them carry on with their education.

"It means in two years we've assisted five alumni with $2500 worth of scholarships," said Skitsko. "This is keeping with our philosophy: Football is fun, education is forever."

"Part of our philosophy is that we try to help each other get better. There is no "I" in team so everybody works hard together. We emphasize to the kids that education is the key to their future and by making an investment in themselves, they're only helping themselves and the Rams are happy to help them get better."

Strong words but the Rams also walk the talk. "If you don't pass, you don't play," Skitsko announced. "You can't be a goof off and a problem in school and expect to play for us. If the principal benches you, so do we!"

This year's annual golf tournament in support of the Rams Bursary fund is being held at the Belvedere Golf Club on June 26. For tickets or more information, please contact Terry Haunn at 914-8015 or at thaunn@aluma.com

January 12, 2001

Sherwood Park This Week, by Joseph Ranger

For more than 30 years, The Sherwood Park Rams football club has played in the County of Strathcona. Several years ago, executives from the team decided to assist the education of their young charges off the field.

On January 7, 2001. the club announced they'll accept bursary applications from players of the 1996 bantam team. It's the first prgram of its kind in Alberta for bantam players.

"Two and a half years ago, the executive supported the concept of the bursary program" said Ram's coach Jin Skitsko. "We wanted to make the players winners on and off the football field. We are proud to be able to assist Ram alumni who have chosen to pusue post-secondary education."

Players from the 1996 team and following years will be eligibleto apply. After determinijng eligibility, the executive will determine the recipients.

"The amount will depend on the number of applicants in any given year" said Skitsko.

Rams alumni who wish to apply or seek further information can contact Coach Skitsko at

jade2002@shaw.ca

Fund raising for this bursary takes place at the annual June golf tournament. To take part in the tournament you may contact Doug Ford at the above email address for more particulars.

February 16, 2001

RAMS AWARD BURSARIES TO FORMER PLAYERS

This Week, by Joseph Ranger

Four former members of the Sherwood Park Rams Football Club have been awarded $500 bursaries for post secondary education, according to the President of the club.

"The Rams want to promote that school is important" said Ram's president Steve White shortly after the former players were informed of their success. Former Rams Willie Shulba, Trevor Scobie and Zach Yuzwa were each awarded $500 bursaries to continue their education, courtesy of the football team.

"This is a conditional award" nonted White who said the funds were contingent on the men successfully completing their semesters this year.

The club will award the bursaries at the team's annual June golf fundraiser at the Belvedere Golf and Country Club, slated for June 27.

"The boys have been notified by phone of the requirement to produce their transcripts and we'd like them to be available on June 27 to accept their cheques.

"It's great, it's a great honor for me to receive it" said Shulba, a former running back now with the Edmonton Huskies. "We barely had any funds to support the team, never mind supporting the alumni. It is just great what Coach Skitsko and the executive have been able to do with the team since I996 when I played.

Shulba is currently enrolled in a science program at the U of A but plans to go into computer science or computer engineering later on.

Yuzwa, a Salisbury graduate currently in his first year of an arts degree at the University of Alberta was quite happy when notified last Thursday. "It's good to know it's coming" said Yuzwa, 18. University is pretty expensive so its always nice to get a few extra dollars in the pocket." He played organized football last with the Salisbury Sabres but fondly remembers his time with the Rams.

"I played with the Rams in 1996 on the defensive line. I'm certainly not big and I wouldn't necessarily say I was quick on my feet". At university, he saw the writing on the wall when noting some of the monster behemoths playing collegiate football. " I realized this year at 5 foot seven inches and 170 pounds that I was too light to be playing at the universsity level but I play flag football now. I do miss football the most though going into the fall. My times with the Rams was special and fun. You didn't have to be the biggest or strongest to play, just have the right attitude."

Ben Thieson, a Fort Saskatchewan High School product also remembers his time with the Rams, especially the feeling of team."Our team was always united and prepared to face each game confidently. Sometimes you don't remember the winning as much as the feeling of togetherness with the players and coaches" he said." I certainly appreciate what being a Ram has done for me."

Irrespective of which school they attend, the head coach of the Rams said each man awarded a bursary qualified on their merit.They qualified in every respect. They are students of the game and good students in school. They are great young ment and we wish them every success in the future," added Skitsko. "That is why the Rams are proud to help them. When they graduate from our team, we know they are winnners on the field. We know this bursary will help them to be winners in life too."