WGA Caddie Academy returns to Chicago's North Shore

Summer will feature 85 young women and 19 young men caddying at local clubs

GOLF, IL – The Western Golf Association’s Caddie Academy is returning for its eighth summer, providing a group of 85 female high school students from across the nation the opportunity to work at local golf and country clubs along Chicago’s North Shore. Additionally, the Boys Caddie Academy is beginning its third summer with 19 male high school participants.

This year, a record number of applicants applied to the Caddie Academy. Joining the returning participants are 24 new girls and 9 new boys.

Girls will begin caddying daily for seven weeks on June 18 at one of 14 participating clubs while living at Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart in Lake Forest, Illinois. Boys will reside at the Northwestern Evans Scholarship House in Evanston, Illinois, and caddie at one of four participating clubs.

This unique program offers participants a chance to experience the benefits of being a golf caddie, from learning life lessons to being around successful adults. Participants are from economically under-resourced backgrounds, and more than 90 percent are minorities. This summer’s participants are from California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Washington D.C.

As part of the Program, the group participates in special outings and field trips, career talks from successful Evans Scholars Alumni leaders and standardized test prep training.

Participating clubs in the Academy include Conway Farms Golf Club, Evanston Golf Club, Exmoor Country Club, The Glen Club, Glen View Club, Indian Hill Club, Knollwood Club, Lake Shore Country Club, Merit Club, Northmoor Country Club, North Shore Country Club, Old Elm Club, Onwentsia Club, Park Ridge Country Club, Skokie Country Club, Sunset Ridge Country Club, Twin Orchard Country Club and Westmoreland Country Club.

“The Caddie Academy provides a unique opportunity for hardworking young women to be introduced to caddying and the game of golf,” says WGA Chairman Frank Morley. “Their ultimate reward is a chance to earn a full scholarship to college."

Those who complete the three-year program will become eligible to apply for the Evans Scholarship, which provides a full, four-year tuition and housing grant to top universities across the country. The prestigious Evans Scholarship, a program supported by the WGA, is awarded to caddies who demonstrate financial need and strong character, as well as outstanding caddie and academic records. This past year, 985 Evans Scholars were enrolled at 18 universities across the nation.

This year, 20 Caddie Academy participants were awarded the Evans Scholarship and will begin college this fall. They are listed below and organized by state and hometown.

Since the inception of the Caddie Academy, 55 participants have been awarded the Evans Scholarship.

The Caddie Academy began in 2012 with an inaugural class of 12 caddies. Each year since, it has experienced tremendous success and growth. The program is a core part of the Evans Scholars Foundation’s plans for growth, with a goal of sending 1,000 caddies to college annually by the year 2020.

The Caddie Academy is funded by the Souder family. Proceeds from the Women’s Invitational golf fundraiser also benefits the Academy.

For more information on the WGA Caddie Academy, please visit www.wgacaddieacademy.org.