New Evans Scholars will begin school this fall

GLENVIEW, Ill. – Fifty-two students from the Chicago area have been awarded the Evans Scholarship — a full housing and tuition college grant offered to golf caddies — following two final selection meeting interviews in Glenview, Illinois, on Feb. 28 and March 1.

Each caddie has a unique story that reflects the scholarship’s four selection criteria: a strong caddie record, excellent academics, demonstrated financial need and outstanding character.

They will begin college this fall as Evans Scholars, with awarded universities to be finalized by April 1. The Evans Scholarship is valued at more than $125,000 over four years. Winners are listed below.

“Each student has demonstrated excellence in the classroom, on the golf course and in their communities,” said WGA Chairman Joe Desch. “We are thrilled to welcome them to what will be an exceptional class of New Scholars from across the nation.”

Evans Scholars selection meeting interviews will continue nationwide through spring. When the 2022-23 selection meeting process is complete, an estimated 325 caddies 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 1,100 caddies are enrolled at 22 universities across the nation as Evans Scholars, and more than 11,800 caddies have graduated as Evans Scholars since the program was founded by famed Chicago amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr.

“These young students represent what our Program has been about since 1930,” 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 more than 36,000 supporters across the country, who are members of the Evans Scholars Par Club program. Evans Scholars Alumni donate more than $15 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 2023, the BMW Championship will be held at Olympia Fields Country Club in Illinois, from Aug. 17-20.

 

First Name

Last Name

Hometown

Sponsoring Club

High School

Karolina

Tomasik

Bloomingdale

Medinah Country Club

Lake Park HS

Antonio

Baker

Chicago

Beverly Country Club

Marian Catholic HS

Ronan

Barron

Chicago

Ridge Country Club

Saint Ignatius College Prep

Liam

Conneely

Chicago

Ridgemoor Country Club

Saint Patrick HS

Mercedes

Curran

Chicago

Evanston Golf Club

Saint Ignatius College Prep

Alger

Duncker

Chicago

Sunset Ridge Country Club

De La Salle Institute

Shawn

Hawthorne

Chicago

Beverly Country Club

Marist HS

Sarah

Isa

Chicago

Bryn Mawr Country Club

Loyola Academy

Diana

Llamas

Chicago

Ridgemoor Country Club

Francis W. Parker School

Gabriela

Masnica

Chicago

Ridgemoor Country Club

Fenwick HS

Isella

Perea

Chicago

Beverly Country Club

De La Salle Institute

Gustavo

Preciado

Chicago

Beverly Country Club

Saint Ignatius College Prep

Jalen

Tucker

Chicago

Beverly Country Club

De La Salle Institute

Alexis

Pallares-Aceves

Cicero

Shoreacres

Saint Ignatius College Prep

Joseph

Moritz

Crystal Lake

Barrington Hills Country Club

Prairie Ridge HS

Max

Widhalm

Crystal Lake

Crystal Lake Country Club

Crystal Lake Central HS

Stephany

Del Real

Des Plaines

Glen View Club

Elk Grove HS

Owen

Curran

Downers Grove

Butterfield Country Club

Downers Grove North HS

Justin

Novoselsky

Elk Grove Village

Twin Orchard Country Club

Elk Grove HS

Tasso

Panousopoulos

Elk Grove Village

Medinah Country Club

James B. Conant HS

Michael

Rowland

Elmhurst

Butterfield Country Club

York Community HS

Kamil

Pilecki

Elmwood Park

Ridgemoor Country Club

Fenwick HS

Haryu

Wooten

Evanston

Westmoreland Country Club

Loyola Academy

Leo

Cassidy

Evergreen Park

Ridge Country Club

Evergreen Park HS

Gael

Tafolla

Franklin Park

Oak Park Country Club

Fenwick HS

Nathan

Skarzynski

Genoa

Elgin Country Club

Genoa-Kingston HS

Adam

Collier

Hanover Park

Inverness Golf Club

Hoffman Estates HS

Maciej

Malak

Hoffman Estates

Inverness Golf Club

William Fremd HS

Christopher

Franko

La Grange

Bob O'Link Golf Club

Lyons Township HS North

Charles

McLaughlin

La Grange Pk

Butterfield Country Club

Nazareth Academy

Sebastian

Hernandez Benavides

Lake Bluff

Lake Shore Country Club

Lake Forest HS

Henry

Grauer

Lake In the Hills

Crystal Lake Country Club

Huntley HS

Katherine

Everitt

Oak Forest

Midlothian Country Club

Oak Forest HS

Morgan

Nielsen

Oak Forest

Midlothian Country Club

Oak Forest HS

Isabella

Daley

Oak Park

Oak Park Country Club

Fenwick HS

Thomas

Viz

Orland Park

Midlothian Country Club

Benet Academy

Michael

Leonczuk

Palatine

Inverness Golf Club

William Fremd HS

Gavin

Ratigan

Palatine

Inverness Golf Club

William Fremd HS

Joseph

Towns

Palatine

Inverness Golf Club

William Fremd HS

Ismael

Flores

Palos Heights

Knollwood Club

Marist HS

Alessia

Luca

Prospect Heights

Evanston Golf Club

Wheeling HS

Riley

Collins

Riverside

Riverside Golf Club

Fenwick HS

Wyatt

Matson

Roselle

Medinah Country Club

Lake Park HS

Reagan

Henkel

Roselle

Medinah Country Club

Lake Park HS

Ana

Silva

South Elgin

Oak Park Country Club

Saint Charles North HS

Cruz

Cortes

South Holland

Olympia Fields Country Club

Thornwood HS

Seyi

Ponmile

Steger

Flossmoor Country Club

Marian Catholic HS

Connor

Koehler

Tinley Park

Midlothian Country Club

Lincoln-Way East HS

Angel

Servin

Waukegan

Glen Flora Country Club

Waukegan HS

Kevin

Cox

Wood Dale

Medinah Country Club

Fenton HS

Declan

Pivnicka

Woodstock

Bull Valley Golf Club

Marian Central Catholic HS

Jennifer

Tapia

Woodstock

Bull Valley Golf Club

Woodstock HS