Two students from Las Vegas earn Evans Scholarships

New Evans Scholars will begin school this fall

GLENVIEW, Ill. – Two students from Las Vegas have been awarded the Evans Scholarship — a full housing and tuition college grant offered to golf caddies — following a selection meeting interview on Thursday, Dec. 21.

Dillyn Hall and Nathaly Fernandez, both from North Las Vegas, will begin college this fall as Evans Scholars. They will attend one of the Program’s 24 partner universities nationwide, with a decision on their awarded schools to be finalized by March 15. The Evans Scholarship is valued at more than $125,000 over four years.

To qualify for the Evans Scholarship, students must meet the Program’s four selection criteria and show a strong caddie record, excellent academics, demonstrated financial need and outstanding character.

As the Evans Scholars Program continues to grow nationwide, more students from newer areas, including Las Vegas, are being introduced to the opportunity to caddie and potentially earn a full college scholarship. Currently, 11 students from the state of Nevada are attending college on the Evans Scholarship, a number that continues to grow annually.

Both Hall and Fernandez were participants of the Chicago chapter of the Caddie Academy, a unique summer program run by the Western Golf Association that provides caddie opportunities to promising high school students from across the country. Through caddying, students have a chance to earn money, meet role models and learn valuable life lessons on the golf course. After successfully completing three summers of the Program, participants can become eligible to apply for the Evans Scholarship.

Hall, a senior at Bonanza High School, will be a first-generation college student. She caddied at Evanston Golf Club in Skokie, Illinois, and plans to study accounting.  

“Caddying has shaped me as a person and shown me how capable I am,” she says. “I was able to build relationships, broaden my horizons and grow my work ethic. Thanks to caddying and the inspiration of my aunt and uncle who have raised me, I am confident in my future.”

Fernandez, a senior at Nevada State High School-Henderson, caddied at Conway Farms Golf Club in Lake Forest, Illinois. Also a first-generation college student, she plans to study education and be a teacher.

“Being a caddie was a great chance for me to build communication skills and etiquette because I had to interact with golfers daily,” she says. “Another benefit of this opportunity was networking with successful people and asking questions and getting advice.”

Selection meeting interviews for Evans Scholar finalists will continue nationwide through spring. When the 2023-24 selection meeting process is complete, an estimated 340 caddies from across the country are expected to be awarded the Evans Scholarship.

The Western Golf Association (WGA), 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 1,130 caddies are enrolled at 24 universities as Evans Scholars, and more than 12,040 caddies have graduated as Evans Scholars since the Program was founded by famed Chicago amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dillyn and Nathaly to the Evans Scholars family,” said WGA Chairman Steve Colnitis. “Their dedication in the classroom, on the golf course and in their community represent what our Program has been about since 1930.”

Funds for the Scholarship come mostly from contributions by more than 36,000 golfers across the country, who belong to 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, benefit the Program. In 2024, the BMW Championship will be held from Aug. 20-25 at Castle Pines Golf Club in the Denver area.