SUBSCRIBE! Sign up for our daily newsletter and never miss a story!

(Image Credit: Prairie Rose Public Schools)
Education

Three Eagle Butte High School graduates announced as recipients of 2026 Redcliff Scholarship Awards

Jun 15, 2026 | 9:28 AM

Three Eagle Butte High School graduates are the recipients of the 2026 Redcliff Scholarship Awards.

Zaria Kelly, Josh Neufeld, and Rachel Pachan will each receive a $6,000 scholarship to support their educational pursuits.

All three students will be attending post-secondary institutions this fall.

Kelly will pursue a Bachelor of Education degree through Medicine Hat College.

Kelly says her goal is to become an elementary school teacher at I.F. Cox School in Redcliff.

“My lifelong dedication to serving the Redcliff community and my passion for working with children have inspired my goal of becoming a teacher and contributing to our community’s future,” Kelly said in a statement from Prairie Rose Public Schools (PRPS).

Neufeld will attend Prairie College in Three Hills to pursue a Bachelor of Theology degree.

He plans to continue his education with a goal of either entering pastoral ministry or becoming a teacher.

“I am drawn to both ministry and education because they involve studying Scripture, theology, and history, and then sharing that knowledge with others in a way that helps them grow,” Neufeld said in a statement from PRPS.

Pachan will be attending the University of Lethbridge to pursue a dual Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Education degree.

Her goal is to build a career as an art teacher.

“I strongly believe that the world needs art, beauty, and love, and I hope to share those values through education,” Pachan said in a statement to PRPS.

Chair of the Scholarship Selection Committee Pam Cursons said the committee reviewed eleven applications from an exceptionally strong group of students, making this year’s selection process very challenging.

“We are proud to support Zaria, Josh, and Rachel as they pursue their post-secondary goals and look forward to seeing the contributions they will make in the future,” Cursons said in a statement from PRPS.

The Redcliff Scholarships for Advanced Education were established in 2002.

Since the program’s inception, the scholarships have helped more than 60 graduates continue their education and pursue their career goals.

The program is funded through Redcliff organizations, past and present residents, and community supporters.

The scholarship program currently includes three annual awards of up to $6,000 each, including the original Redcliff Scholarship for Advanced Education, the For Four Friends Scholarship, and the David Jon Thomson Scholarship.

Selection criteria include financial need, leadership and citizenship, academic merit, and overall ability, with preference given to first-year students who have resided in Redcliff for the majority of their school years.

Additional information on the scholarships is available on the PRPS website.