Forty caddies to attend leading universities in the fall

GOLF, IL – Forty Chicago-area students have been awarded the Evans Scholarship, a full housing and tuition college grant offered to golf caddies, following a final selection interview held at Medinah Country Club in Medinah on Nov. 27, Northern Trust in Chicago on Dec. 4 and North Shore Country Club in Glenview on Dec. 8.

Each caddie has a unique story to tell, reflecting the scholarship’s four selection criteria: a strong caddie record; excellent academics; demonstrated financial need; and outstanding character. They will begin college in the fall of 2019 as Evans Scholars, with awarded universities to be finalized this spring. The Evans Scholarship is valued at an estimated $120,000 over four years. Winners are listed below and organized by hometown.

“Each of these deserving Evans Scholars epitomizes what our Program has been about since its creation in 1930,” said WGA Chairman Frank Morley. “Their dedication, hard work and sacrifice is humbling, and we are honored to be able to help them pursue their dreams.”

The selection meetings at Medinah Country Club, Northern Trust and North Shore Country Club were three of more than 20 such meetings the Evans Scholars Foundation will hold across the country through the spring. When the 2018-19 selection meeting process is completed by April, an estimated 275 caddies are expected to be awarded the Evans Scholarship.

The Western Golf Association, headquartered in Golf, Illinois, has supported the Chick Evans Scholarship Program through the Evans Scholars Foundation since 1930. One of golf’s favorite charities, it is the nation’s largest scholarship program for caddies.

Currently, a record 985 caddies are enrolled in 18 universities across the nation as Evans Scholars, and more than 10,830 caddies have graduated as Evans Scholars since the program was founded by famed Chicago amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr.

“These young men and women have shown excellence in the classroom and in their communities, as well as on the golf course,” said John Kaczkowski, WGA President and CEO. “We welcome them to the Evans Scholars family.”

Scholarship funds come mostly from contributions by 32,000 golfers across the country, who are members of the Evans Scholars Par Club program. Evans Scholars Alumni donate more than $10 million annually, and all proceeds from the BMW Championship, the third of four PGA TOUR Playoff events in the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup competition, are donated to the Evans Scholars Foundation.

Name Hometown Sponsoring Club High School
Grace Ryan Arlington Heights Rolling Green CC Prospect HS
Citlalli Cazales Berwyn River Forest CC Nazareth Academy
Anahi Marquez Berwyn Oak Park CC Nazareth Academy
Mary Mack Chicago Edgewood Valley CC The Latin School of Chicago
Julia Wilk Chicago Ruth Lake CC Fenwick HS
Andrew Tamayo Cicero Oak Park CC J. Sterling Morton East HS
Jack Gentleman Clarendon Hills Hinsdale GC Hinsdale Central HS
John Semenchuk Darien Cantigny Golf Benet Academy
Kevin Gnadt Elmhurst River Forest CC York Community HS
Sam Pozen Elmhurst River Forest CC York Community HS
Santiago Currea Gurnee Ivanhoe Club Warren Township HS
Richard Araujo Hinsdale Butterfield CC Hinsdale Central HS
Matthew Murray LaGrange Edgewood Valley CC Lyons Township HS
Gabriella Dudek Lake Zurich Twin Orchard CC Lake Zurich HS
Adam Krasowski Lake Zurich Twin Orchard CC Lake Zurich HS
Brigid Higgins Lemont Hinsdale GC Kolbe Academy
Marshall Hernandez Lombard Cantigny Golf Homeschooled
Dominick Longobardi Mount Prospect Medinah CC John Hersey HS
Audrey Cahill Naperville Naperville CC Saint Ignatius College Prep
Jack Dykema West Chicago Chicago GC Wheaton Academy

 

Name Sponsoring Club High School
Adedoyin Akisanya Sankaty Head Golf Club
Latin School of Chicago
Maria Paz Espin Skokie Country Club Saint Ignatius College Prep
Anahi Gutierrez Skokie Country Club Saint Ignatius College Prep
Jacqueline Hernandez Onwentsia Club Back of the Yards College Preparatory HS
Lydia Johnson Beverly Country Club Lindblom Math and Science Academy
Joshua Russell Bryn Mawr Country Club Lane Tech College Prep HS
Ian Shimandle Bryn Mawr Country Club Northside College Prep
David Wang Riverside Golf Club Whitney M. Young Magnet HS

 

Name Hometown Sponsoring Club High School
Erick Flores Chicago Indian Hill Club Loyola Academy
Declan Gillespie Chicago Ridgemoor Country Club Saint Patrick High School
Moises Lopez Chicago Lake Shore Country Club Saint Ignatius College Prep
Sabrina Lopez Chicago Skokie Country Club Chicago Waldorf School
Maura McCarthy Chicago Ridgemoor Country Club Lane Tech College Prep High School
Evelyn Nava Chicago Conway Farms Golf Club North Shore Country Day School
Emmanuel Perez Chicago Conway Farms Golf Club Saint Ignatius College Prep
Asia Sobek Chicago Northmoor Country Club Mother McAuley Liberal Arts HS
Aaron Williams Chicago Evanston Golf Club Northside College Prep
Shawn Coffell Grayslake Northmoor Country Club Warren Township High School
Allison McLean Libertyville Shoreacres Libertyville High School
Rosalie Xavier Skokie Evanston Golf Club Niles North High School