Students at Southgate’s alternative education high school, Advantage Academy, would dread missing their Friday morning class. Instead of white cement walls and number two pencils, it is number three irons and dimpled golf balls set high on a tee.

Since its inception during the 2005-06 school year, the Asher Golf and Fitness Program has grown immensely and helped refute stereotypes of alternative education students. Given the program’s success in boosting student self-esteem as well as physical fitness, for those close to the program, it was no surprise when it was chosen as the winner of the 2009 Michigan’s Best Award in the category of Health and School Safety by the Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB).

Upon hearing of the program’s achievement, its co-director, Ruth Kemp, was elated. In order to win the prestigious award, the alternative education program had to beat out other programs at traditional K-12 schools. The Asher program also won the 2009 Education Excellence Award given by MASB.

The program, established by Kemp, the school’s athletic director, and Scott Stacey, a teacher, incorporates the Southgate Adult and Community Education academic curriculum. It enables more than 145 at-risk students an academic year to learn the game of golf and the life lessons carried with it. The golf and fitness program is free to students and open to anyone interested. It also satisfies the state curriculum change that requires students earning a high school diploma to take a physical education course that teaches individual and lifelong activities and learning.

“Golf was something that many of these students never had the opportunity to do,” Kemp said, adding that her goal was to not only introduce her students to the game, but to also draw in females and minorities to a sport mostly available to the affluent.

Students complete their usual weekday classes before meeting on Friday for four hours. During this time, they receive an academic lesson on the rules, safety and etiquette of golf before they go to one of three area courses. At the golf course, they experience hands-on learning from volunteers and PGA pros.

 “I’ve found that if you teach them the fundamentals, if you break it down to the bare bones of grip and stance, and give them the tools to do it, they enjoy it. If taught the right way, 99 percent of them love it,” Kemp said.

In the four years the program has been in operation, only once did a student ask not to participate. That’s an amazing statistic considering how many students sit out in a standard physical education class.

This program, though it may seem like fun and games, still requires students to put in a large effort. The course includes an academic component in which the student must learn and retain subject matter. They also learn important fitness skills such as the difference between aerobic and anaerobic exercise, taking heart rates, measuring their own body fat, assessing body flexibility and taking each other’s blood pressure.

The program also has improved general school pride, a feeling evident when students see a banner in their school gym that has Tiger Woods and Michele Wie promoting the golf program. “The Asher Golf and Fitness Program has not only changed how alternative students think of themselves and their school experience, but it has also changed the face of alternative education in our community,” noted Kemp.

“While it meets curriculum requirements and introduces students to an opportunity they otherwise might not have, it truly is community-based. We’re out there every week,” Kemp said. “It really combines community with education.”

Local agencies often come out and have lunch with the students, including local police officers. The continuing participation of local police has led to an annual golf outing where students and police officers challenge each other. Creating a relationship between the students and community leaders is especially important as it helps change the perception they have of one another.

The program relies on funding from the United States Golf Association and Professional Golf Association. In addition, three area courses have partnered up with the program: Southgate Municipal Golf Course, Sultana Golf Course in Brownstone, and Riverview Highlands in Riverview. Southgate’s agreement with the participating courses is that nine-hole green fees cost no more than $5 per participating student. Students also have access to the Oakwood Gym, which doesn’t charge Southgate students for use.

Southgate plans to use the $1,500 Michigan’s Best Award money to provide two scholarships, one male and one female, for postsecondary education anywhere in the country.

Due to the success of the Asher Golf and Fitness Program and cooperation of the Southgate Board of Education and Southgate Municipal Golf Course, program leaders are in the process of establishing a system where community members can donate new and used golf equipment and apparel for the students in need. The program’s success story has also reached beyond the Michigan border. Florida schools have contacted Southgate to inquire about the program and its implementation.

Congratulations Southgate on your outstanding achievement!

Those who would like to send donations can do so to the Asher Golf Program at Asher School, 14101 Leroy, Southgate, Michigan, 48195. If you’d like more information, please call the Southgate Community School District at (734) 246-4633 or e-mail Ruth Kemp at rkkemp@hotmail.com.

If you know of a community education center that is going above and beyond for the students and community it serves, let us know at editor@macae.org.