Five Los Angeles-area student caddies awarded full college scholarships

New Evans Scholars each graduated from WGA Caddie Academy

GLENVIEW, IL – Five students from the Los Angeles area have been awarded the Evans Scholarship – a full housing and tuition college scholarship offered to golf caddies – following a selection meeting interview held at Ironwood Country Club in Palm Desert, California, on Feb. 15.

The students will begin college this fall as Evans Scholars, attending one of the Program’s 24 partner universities nationwide. Decisions on awarded schools will be finalized by March 15. The Evans Scholarship is valued at more than $125,000 over four years. A list of winners can be found below.

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.

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

The newly awarded winners were all participants of the WGA Caddie Academy, a special summer program in the Chicago area that provides work opportunities to promising high school students from across the country. The program offers students a chance to live together for seven weeks and caddie each day at nearby golf clubs, while earning money, meeting role models and learning valuable life lessons on the golf course. After successfully completing three summers, participants are eligible to apply for the Evans Scholarship.

As the Evans Scholars Program continues to grow nationwide, more students from newer areas in the West, including from Los Angeles and throughout California, are being introduced to the opportunity to caddie and potentially earn a full college scholarship. There are 22 students from the state of California who are current Evans Scholars; that number continues to increase each year, as more students each year are awarded from the state.

The four girls, who are all seniors at St. Mary’s Academy in Inglewood, all caddied at Northmoor Country Club in Highland Park, Illinois, a Chicago suburb.

Alani Soto of Los Angeles hopes to be a nurse, after caring for her dad following his stroke. The opportunity to caddie through Caddie Academy allowed for independence and a shot at a college education to help make that dream come true.

“Participating in this seven-week program has allowed me to see what life would be like on my own,” she said. “I was nervous in the beginning, but I’m happy to say it has made me a stronger and more confident individual. It was my first real job and taught me to better my communication and social skills, not only with the golfers I caddied for, but with the other participants.”

“The experience with WGA Caddie Academy was transformational for Kedie, Alani, Diana and Sara,” said Dr. Brandi Odom Lucas, Head of School at St. Mary’s Academy. “The Evans Scholarship will be life-changing! We appreciate the mentorship, support and leadership that has been provided to them the past three years. We are so proud of these young women!”

Currently, a record 1,130 caddies are enrolled at 24 universities nationwide as Evans Scholars. More than 12,040 caddies have graduated as Evans Scholars since the Program was founded by famed Chicago amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr. in 1930.

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.

“We are thrilled to welcome this new group of student caddies to the Evans Scholars family,” said WGA Chairman Steve Colnitis. “Their dedication in the classroom, on the golf course and in their communities represents what our Program has been about since 1930.”

Funds for the Scholarship come mostly from contributions by more than 38,500 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.

A list of winners can be found below.