George Williams College Campus and Golf Course Transformed Into Outdoor Classroom

Williams Bay, Wis., July 16, 2007 —The George Williams College campus and Golf Course at 350 Constance Blvd., Williams Bay, Wis., will become an outdoor classroom for approximately 55 Illinois middle-school students from Sunday, July 22 through Friday, July 28.

The fourth annual Character and Leadership Education Through Golf program hosted at George Williams College of Aurora University links the game of golf with life skills and leadership lessons.

The residential program is designed to bring The First Tee of Aurora’s nine core values — honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy, and judgment — into real-world learning experiences for students.

Activities are scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on most days. Highlights include golf practice on the campus’ 18-hole course, instruction in life skills, core values, leadership, and team building.

Other activities scheduled are a Geneva Lake boat tour and water festival. A nine-hole tournament and farewell cookout for students and staff on Friday conclude the program.

Students represent The First Tee of Aurora from Aurora and surrounding communities and youth sponsored by Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill., and the Kids Golf Foundation of Illinois.

The Illinois PGA Foundation, which has been a leader in introducing the game to underprivileged juniors for the past 10 years, will fund youth to attend from the following Illinois organizations: Boys Hope, Girls Hope; Glenwood Schools, South Campus and West Campus; Chicago Academy High School golf team; The First Tee of Aurora; and The Great River First Tee in Quincy, IL.

Major funding for this program is provided by The Wadsworth Golf Charities Foundation. Additional funding is provided by the Illinois Golf Foundation, The Michael L. Keiser and Rosalind C. Keiser Charitable Fund, and The First Tee of Aurora.

Rita Yerkes, dean of AU’s School of Experiential Leadership, serves as program director. Instructors are The First Tee of Aurora staff members and George Williams College professors and graduate recreation majors.

The program at George Williams College originated in 2004 after a year of preparation by university and The First Tee of Aurora officials.

Yerkes said, “The George Williams College of Aurora University has a rich history of youth development and leadership programs.

“This collaboration with First Tee chapters is a natural extension of our academic and youth outreach programs.

“We believe our campus is the only place where students can walk from a dormitory to an 18-hole golf course, experience a world-class leadership class, and enjoy lakefront activities available on beautiful Geneva Lake,” Yerkes said.

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