The Dembroski Student Managed Portfolio Trust, a student-run investment portfolio at Edwards School of Business, has received a $250,000 gift to boost the value of the portfolio.

Since its inception in 2012, the Dembroski Trust has delivered significant experiential learning opportunities to Edwards students as they put their core financial knowledge into practice managing funds in an investment account. The University of Saskatchewan offers one of only a few programs in Canada with a Trust of this size.

The gift is a significant milestone for PrairieSky Royalty Ltd. as it is the largest gift ever made by the company and will bring the value of the Trust to over $1.8 million dollars over the next four years.

PrairieSky is the leading mineral title owner in Saskatchewan and employs many University of Saskatchewan graduates. Although the majority of the leadership team received their education outside of Saskatchewan, PrairieSky has chosen to invest in the community where they do business.

“The Dembroski Trust was of particular interest to us given the practical nature of the program,” said Cameron Proctor, Chief Operating Officer. “When students have an opportunity to work with real money, as opposed to a model portfolio, it teaches them to focus on being diligent, thorough, and having accountability for their work product and results.”

Alumni of the class still contribute significantly to the Dembroski Trust by providing mentorship and industry advice to current students.

“The Dembroski fund provides students with practical experience in navigating financial markets and differentiates them in a pool of prospective candidates,” said David Frattinger, an alumnus of the first investment management class. “Professor Tannous equips students with tools that continue to be useful in my career today. It is because of this experience that I am proud to continue my involvement and give back to the students.”

PrairieSky’s investment will support and enhance the long-term strategy of the student-managed portfolio under the supervision of Finance faculty.

“The Student-Managed Portfolio classes enrich practical experience significantly and open new horizons for student interactions, guest speaker presentations, and participation in international conferences,” said Professor George Tannous, faculty advisor for the students.

“We are grateful for PrairieSky’s investment in our student experience,” said Interim Dean Dr. Keith Willoughby. “The proof is in the student’s ability to manage funds that produce a higher percentage of return on a comparable market index.”

“PrairieSky’s investment recognizes the importance of experiential learning,” added Susan Milburn, board member of the Dembroski Trust. “It is critical to the financial community that we develop talented students and present them with challenging opportunities to grow. This gift goes a long way to meeting  those goals.”

About PrairieSky Royalty Ltd.

PrairieSky is a royalty-focused company, generating royalty revenues as petroleum and natural gas are produced from its properties. PrairieSky has a diverse portfolio of properties that have a long history of generating free cash flow and that represent the largest and most concentrated independently-owned fee simple mineral title position in Canada. PrairieSky common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol PSK.

About Edwards School of Business

Over the past 100 years, Edwards School of Business has committed to providing excellent educational experiences for students. We offer five-degree programs to over 2,200 current students at the certificate, undergraduate, and graduate levels. Our mission is to develop business professionals who build nations. We embrace the teacher-scholar model and deliver our mission through faculty with strong academic and professional expertise. Through co-operative education and extensive experiential learning opportunities, our students receive relevant experience leading to exciting career opportunities upon graduation.

For more information, please contact:

Rae Oleksyn
Development Officer
Edwards School of Business
University of Saskatchewan
306-966-7471
oleksyn@edwards.usask.ca

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