Holly Stewart to begin college as an Evans Scholar this fall
Glenview, Ill. – A student from British Columbia, Canada, has been awarded the Evans Scholarship, a prestigious full housing and tuition grant offered to golf caddies, following an online selection interview held Dec. 21.
Holly Stewart of Victoria will begin college this fall as an Evans Scholar at the University of Washington in Seattle, where she plans to study geography. She currently is in Grade 12 at École Victor-Brodeur and caddies at Victoria Golf Club.
“Being part of a caddie program helped me develop into a person who’s excited about the prospect of university, and gave me confidence that I have the skills, character and strength to succeed,” Stewart says. “Caddying helped me grow my confidence, expand my interests and be more team-oriented.”
Evans Scholars are chosen based on showing a strong caddie record, excellent academics, financial need and outstanding character. The Evans Scholarship is valued at more than $120,000 over four years.
“From age 12, Holly was very serious about caddying. She pushed herself to master all the skills needed on the course,” said WGA Director and Victoria Golf Club member Jenny Dobell. “But more importantly, she pushed herself to overcome her natural shyness and develop strong relationships with the members who played in her regular golf groups. Those relationships will long outlast her caddying years, carrying her forward to UW and, beyond that, her career. Everyone at VGC is thrilled that she has been awarded the Evans Scholarship.”
The Evans Scholars selection interviews will continue to be held with applicants nationwide through spring. When the 2021-22 selection meeting process is complete, an estimated 315 caddies across the country are expected to be awarded the Evans Scholarship.
The Western Golf Association, headquartered in Glenview, Illinois, has supported the Chick Evans Scholarship Program through the Evans Scholars Foundation since 1930. Known as one of golf’s favorite charities, it is the nation’s largest scholarship program for caddies.
Currently, a record 1,070 caddies are enrolled at 21 universities across the nation as Evans Scholars, and more than 11,500 caddies have graduated as Evans Scholars since the program was founded by famed Chicago amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr.
“These young students have each shown excellence in the classroom, in their communities and on the golf course,” said WGA President and CEO John Kaczkowski. “We are proud to welcome them to the Evans Scholars family.”
Scholarship funds come mostly from contributions by nearly 35,000 supporters across the country, who are members of the Evans Scholars Par Club program. Evans Scholars Alumni donate more than $17 million annually, and all proceeds from the BMW Championship, the penultimate PGA TOUR Playoff event in the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup competition, are donated to the Evans Scholars Foundation. In 2022, the BMW Championship will be held at Wilmington Country Club in Wilmington, Delaware, from Aug. 16-21.