New Evans Scholar will begin school for pre-medicine this fall

GLENVIEW, IL – A student caddie from Vero Beach, Florida, has been awarded the Evans Scholarship – a full housing and tuition college grant offered to golf caddies – following a final selection meeting interview held on March 5 at The Country Club of Florida.

Christopher Trumble of Vero Beach will begin college this fall as an Evans Scholar at one of the Program’s 24 partner universities nationwide, where he hopes to study pre-medicine. The Evans Scholarship is valued at more than $125,000 over four years.

The 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.

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.

A senior at Florida Virtual School, Christopher caddies at Oakmont Country Club in Plum, Pennsylvania, during the summer. He began caddying because his dad is a full-time caddie, and the family moves between Florida and Pennsylvania depending on caddie season.

“My time caddying has sharpened my work ethic and my ability to interact with others,” he says. “Spending four hours with a stranger has improved my social skills and helped me read those around me. I have made valuable connections and spoken about potential career paths to those who have climbed to extreme success and knowledge. The physical strength and attention to detail have built critical skills for my future career in college and beyond.”

As the Evans Scholars Program continues to grow nationwide, more students from newer areas are being introduced to the opportunity to caddie and potentially earn a full college scholarship.  Christopher is one of a growing number of students from the state of Florida to earn an Evans Scholarship in recent years.

With the 2023-24 selection meeting process complete, a record 340 caddies from across the country have been awarded the Evans Scholarship.

“We are thrilled to welcome Christopher to the Evans Scholars family,” said WGA Chairman Steve Colnitis. “His dedication in the classroom, on the golf course and in his community represents the best of what our Program has been about since 1930.”

Funds for the Scholarship come mostly from contributions by more than 38,500 supporters 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. This year, the BMW Championship will be held from Aug. 20-25 at Castle Pines Golf Club in the Denver area.