April 26, 2024

More than 130 caddies from Illinois earn Evans Scholarships

New class of Evans Scholars will begin school this fall

GLENVIEW, IL – More than one hundred and thirty students from the state of Illinois have been awarded the Evans Scholarship – a full housing and tuition college grant offered to golf caddies.

They will begin college this fall as Evans Scholars, attending one of the Program’s 24 partner universities nationwide. The Evans Scholarship is valued at more than $125,000 over four years. A full 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.

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

Currently, a record 1,130 caddies are enrolled at 24 universities nationwide as Evans Scholars – including 41 at Northwestern University, five at University of Chicago, 125 at the University of Illinois and 45 at the University of Illinois Chicago. 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. This year, the WGA celebrates the 125^th anniversary of its founding in 1899.

Following the most recent selection meeting season, a record 340 caddies from across the country have been awarded the Evans Scholarship.

Some of the newly awarded Evans Scholars participated in the WGA Caddie Academy, a special summer program that provides caddie opportunities to promising high school students. With six chapters nationwide — including two in the Chicago area — the program offers students a chance to caddie each day, earn money, meet role models and learn valuable life lessons on the golf course. After completing three summers, participants are eligible to apply for the Evans Scholarship.

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.

First Name	Last Name	Hometown	Sponsoring Club	High School	University
Scott	Roser	Arlington Heights	Twin Orchard CC	Buffalo Grove HS	University of Illinois Champaign
Annika	Johnson	Aurora	Cantigny Golf	Illinois Math& Science Academy	University of Minnesota
Trayvonn	Foster	Beach Park	Glen Flora CC	Zion Benton Township HS	University of Illinois Champaign
Maxymilian	Bis	Bensenville	Medinah CC	Fenton HS	University of Notre Dame
Fernando	Garnica	Blue Island	Midlothian CC	Dwight D. Eisenhower HS	University of Illinois Chicago
Megan	Lee	Buffalo Grove	Sunset Ridge CC	Adlai E Stevenson HS	Northwestern University
David	Sulnius *	Buffalo Grove	Royal Melbourne CC	Adlai E Stevenson HS	University of Illinois Champaign
Caleb	Ramirez	Cary	Crystal Lake CC	Cary-Grove Community HS	University of Iowa
Brett	Widlowski	Channahon	Ruth Lake CC	Minooka Community HS	University of Illinois Champaign
Andres	Andrade	Chicago	Sunset Ridge CC	Brother Rice HS	University of Illinois Champaign
Sandin	Avdic	Chicago	Bryn Mawr CC	Chicago Waldorf School	University of Chicago
Sergel	Berhane	Chicago	Lake Shore CC	Saint Ignatius College Prep	Northwestern University
Brian	Campoverde	Chicago	Ridgemoor CC	Francis W. Parker School	University of Michigan
Amir	Davis	Chicago	Knollwood Club	Mount Carmel HS	University of Illinois Champaign
Anthony	Garcia	Chicago	Beverly CC	Jones College Prep HS	University of Illinois Champaign
Mauricio	Garcia-Perez	Chicago	Briarwood CC	Fenwick HS	Marquette University
Miles	Gerster	Chicago	Oak Park CC	Lane Tech College Prep HS	University of Illinois Champaign
Ava	Gonzalez	Chicago	Park Ridge CC	Illinois Math & Science Academy	University of Illinois Champaign
Noah	Green **	Chicago	Knollwood Club	De La Salle Institute	Howard University
Ella	Grillo	Chicago	Ridgemoor CC	Regina Dominican HS	Michigan State University
Lily	Grillo	Chicago	Ridgemoor CC	Regina Dominican HS	University of Illinois Champaign
Geoffrey	Heard	Chicago	Midlothian CC	Urban Prep Charter Academy	Howard University
Gilbert	Jacobi	Chicago	Ridgemoor CC	Saint Ignatius College Prep	Northwestern University
Paul	Kaczor	Chicago	Bryn Mawr CC	Lane Tech College Prep HS	University of Illinois Chicago
Hannah	Koker	Chicago	Evanston Golf Club	The Culver Academies	University of Illinois Champaign
Jose	Lemus	Chicago	Briarwood CC	Marist HS	University of Illinois Champaign
Xitlally	Llamas Estanquero	Chicago	Ridgemoor CC	Pritzker College Prep	University of Michigan
Samson	Madariso	Chicago	Evanston Golf Club	Loyola Academy	Northwestern University
Emerson	McGuire	Chicago	Beverly CC	Marist HS	Marquette University
Isabella	Molina **	Chicago	Glen Club	Lincoln Park HS	University of Colorado
Deana	Oraz	Chicago	Oak Park CC	Ogden International School	University of Illinois Champaign
Bella	Ramirez	Chicago	Indian Hill Club	Nazareth Academy	Miami University
Jessica	Reardon	Chicago	Beverly CC	Saint Ignatius College Prep	University of Iowa
Dylan	Richard	Chicago	Oak Park CC	Saint Patrick HS	University of Kansas
Volodymyr	Sobko	Chicago	Ridgemoor CC	Saint Ignatius College Prep	Northwestern University
Michael	Sosna	Chicago	Ridgemoor CC	Fenwick HS	University of Chicago
Isaac	Soto **	Chicago	Sunset Ridge CC	Marist HS	University of Wisconsin
Ryan	Walsh	Chicago	Beverly CC	Mount Carmel HS	University of Kansas
Yahmani	Dorsey	Chicago Heights	Olympia Fields CC	Bloom HS	Indiana University
Diego	Morales	Chicago Heights	Olympia Fields CC	Marian Catholic HS	University of Illinois Champaign
Armando	Castro	Cicero	Onwentsia Club	Fenwick HS	University of Illinois Chicago
Salome	Diaz-Rojas	Cicero	River Forest CC	Woodlands Academy	University of Illinois Chicago
Valery	Espinoza	Cicero	Riverside Golf Club	J Sterling Morton East HS	University of Illinois Champaign
Stefani	Mejia-Gonzalez	Cicero	Riverside Golf Club	J Sterling Morton East HS	University of Notre Dame
Jose Alan	Sotelo *	Cicero	Skokie CC	The School at Church Farm	University of Kansas
Alex	Taboada	Cicero	La Grange CC	J Sterling Morton East HS	University of Illinois Chicago
Jonathan	Guyton	CC Hills	Flossmoor CC	Hillcrest HS	University of Illinois Chicago
Destiny	Ndubuisi-Obi	CC Hills	Jackson Park Golf Course	Culver Academies	Northwestern University
Sean	Raadsen	Crystal Lake	Crystal Lake CC	Crystal Lake South HS	University of Illinois Chicago
Joseph	Vanderwiel	Crystal Lake	Bull Valley Golf Club	Prairie Ridge HS	University of Illinois Champaign
Thomas	Remi	Darien	Edgewood Valley CC	Hinsdale South HS	University of Illinois Champaign
Alexander	Agalliu	Des Plaines	North Shore CC	Loyola Academy	Marquette University
Gavin	Dougherty *	East Dundee	Elgin CC	Dundee-Crown HS	Miami University
Mercedes	Erdemsoyol	Elgin	Skokie CC	Central HS	University of Illinois Champaign
Nicholas	Martinez	Elgin	Elgin CC	South Elgin HS	Marquette University
Camila	Arredondo	Elmhurst	River Forest CC	York Community HS	University of Illinois Champaign
Abraham	Caballero	Elmhurst	River Forest CC	York Community HS	University of Kansas
Samuel	Hemmersmeier	Elmhurst	Butterfield CC	Montini Catholic HS	University of Notre Dame
Joseph	Rinchiuso	Elmhurst	Butterfield CC	York Community HS	University of Chicago
Camden	Ey	Evanston	Evanston Golf Club	Evanston Township HS	University of Illinois Champaign
Graham	McKee	Evanston	Westmoreland CC	Evanston Township HS	University of Illinois Champaign
Colin	Kelly	Evergreen Park	Ridge CC	Evergreen Park HS	University of Kansas
Jalen	Allred-Coleman	Flossmoor	Olympia Fields CC	Homewood-Flossmoor HS	University of Illinois Chicago
Steven	Smith	Frankfort	Olympia Fields CC	Lincoln-Way East HS	Indiana University
Lissette	Garcia	Glenview	Evanston Golf Club	Glenbrook South HS	University TBD
Samuel	Zelinsky	Glenview	Sunset Ridge CC	Glenbrook South HS	University of Iowa
Kamila	Borek	Harwood Heights	Ridgemoor CC	Ridgewood Community HS	Indiana University
Luis	Solorio	Hazel Crest	Olympia Fields CC	Thornwood HS	University of Illinois Chicago
Zachary	Coren	Highland Park	Lake Shore CC	Highland Park HS	University of Illinois Champaign
Marko	Ivanisevic	Hinsdale	Ruth Lake CC	Hinsdale Central HS	University of Illinois Champaign
Melanie	Dunaway *	Homer Glen	Hinsdale Golf Club	Lockport HS	University of Illinois Chicago
Kate	Flemming	Homer Glen	Crystal Tree Golf & CC	Lockport Township HS East	University of Illinois Champaign
John	Collins	Huntley	Crystal Lake CC	Huntley HS	University of Illinois Champaign
Zachary	Worwa	Itasca	Medinah CC	Lake Park HS	University of Wisconsin
Gabriela	Zych	Itasca	Medinah CC	Lake Park HS	Indiana University
Lukas	Phillips	LaGrange Highlands	Edgewood Valley CC	Lyons Township HS North	University of Illinois Champaign
Scott	Weston	Lake Bluff	Knollwood Club	Lake Forest HS	University of Colorado
Hailey	Baffico	Libertyville	Knollwood Club	Libertyville HS	University of Illinois Champaign
Izrael	Lopez	Libertyville	Merit Club	Libertyville HS	University of Illinois Chicago
Gabrielle	Walton	Lombard	Glen Oak CC	Glenbard East HS	University of Iowa
Anthony	Davis	Maywood	River Forest CC	Lane Tech College Prep HS	University of Michigan
Caroline	Leavy	Maywood	Oak Park CC	Saint Ignatius College Prep	Marquette University
Gavin	Cueto	McHenry	McHenry CC	McHenry West HS	University of Illinois Champaign
Jacob	Jensen	McHenry	Bull Valley Golf Club	McHenry HS	Northwestern University
Joseph	Colella	Medinah	Medinah CC	Lake Park HS	University of Iowa
Kayla	Gorski	Melrose Park	River Forest CC	West Leyden HS	University of Iowa
Ricardo	Avila	Midlothian	Midlothian CC	Bremen HS	University of Kansas
Eli	Avalos	Minooka	Midlothian CC	Minooka Community HS	University of Illinois Champaign
Alexander	Huscher	Mokena	Olympia Fields CC	Lincoln-Way Central HS	University of Illinois Champaign
Adam	Adaska	Mundelein	Ivanhoe Club	Mundelein HS	University of Illinois Chicago
Sergio	Rodriguez	Mundelein	Knollwood Club	Mundelein HS	University of Illinois Chicago
Madison	Nestoras	Naperville	Naperville CC	Naperville Central HS	University of Iowa
Nicholas	Oblazny	Naperville	Cantigny Golf	Naperville North HS	University of Illinois Champaign
Karol	Chmielewski	Niles	Bryn Mawr CC	Niles West HS	University of Michigan
Matthew	Vertucio	Niles	North Shore CC	Maine East HS	University of Illinois Champaign
Stephanie	Martinez	Norridge	Bryn Mawr CC	Lane Tech College Prep HS	University of Illinois Chicago
Ethan	Waldman *	North Chicago	Northmoor CC	North Shore Country Day School	Marquette University
Nolan	Lach	North Riverside	Riverside Golf Club	Riverside Brookfield HS	Purdue University
Gianina	Montoro	North Riverside	Chicago Highlands Club	Nazareth Academy	Purdue University
Mark	Genkin	Northbrook	Briarwood CC	Glenbrook North HS	University of Wisconsin
Adam	Lipnickas	Northbrook	Ravinia Green CC	Glenbrook North HS	University of Illinois Champaign
Hugo	Lechuga	Northlake	River Forest CC	West Leyden HS	University of Illinois Champaign
Trenton	Parker	Oak Brook	Chicago Highlands Club	York Community HS	University of Illinois Champaign
Caden	Culver	Oak Forest	Olympia Fields CC	Victor J Andrew HS	University of Illinois Champaign
Timothy	Farrell	Oak Forest	Midlothian CC	Oak Forest HS	University of Iowa
Delaney	Lim	Oak Forest	Midlothian CC	Victor J Andrew HS	University of Illinois Champaign
Eoin	Burke	Oak Lawn	Beverly CC	Oak Lawn Community HS	University TBD
Delia	McKirdie	Oak Lawn	Beverly CC	Harold L Richards HS	University of Illinois Champaign
Hannah	Stepek	Oak Lawn	Ridge CC	Mother McAuley HS	University of Kansas
Emma	Gudenau	Orland Park	Prestwick CC	Mother McAuley HS	University of Minnesota
Savanna	Manning	Orland Park	Crystal Tree Golf & CC	Carl Sandburg HS	Ohio State University
Robert	Rutledge	Orland Park	Midlothian CC	Brother Rice HS	University of Illinois Champaign
Daniel	Gallagher	Palos Park	Midlothian CC	Marist HS	University of Iowa
Oscar	Aponte	Park city	Skokie CC	Warren Township HS	University of Illinois Chicago
Jack	Conway	Park Ridge	Park Ridge CC	Maine South HS	University of Illinois Champaign
Beatrice	Poindexter	Park Ridge	Park Ridge CC	Maine South HS	Indiana University
Andrea	Orozco	Posen	Edgewood Valley CC	Bremen HS	Northwestern University
Owen	Uppinghouse	Quincy	Quincy CC	Quincy Senior HS	University of Missouri
Holden	Sullivan	River Forest	Oak Park CC	Oak Park & River Forest HS	University of Minnesota
Julia	Kamysz	Roselle	Medinah CC	Lake Park HS	University of Notre Dame
Matthew	O'Brien	Roselle	Medinah CC	James B. Conant HS	University of Illinois Champaign
Joseph	O'Brien	Roselle	Medinah CC	James B. Conant HS	University of Illinois Champaign
Mason	Morawski *	Sleepy Hollow	Biltmore CC	Dundee-Crown HS	University of Iowa
Aranzazu	Munoz	South Holland	Olympia Fields CC	Thornwood HS	University of Illinois Chicago
Christopher	Munoz	South Holland	Olympia Fields CC	Thornwood HS	University of Illinois Chicago
Jonathan	Vandermeir	Streamwood	Inverness Golf Club	Schaumburg Christian HS	University of Missouri
Ingrid	Quinteros	Vernon Hills	Ravinia Green CC	Adlai E Stevenson HS	Marquette University
Alexandra	Manrriquez **	Waukegan	Ivanhoe Club	Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep	Marquette University
Mya	Weatherspoon **	Waukegan	Ivanhoe Club	Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep	Howard University
Charles	McKerr	Western Springs	La Grange CC	Lyons Township HS North	University of Kansas
Salvador	Rodriguez	Westmont	Hinsdale Golf Club	Westmont HS	University of Illinois Chicago
Colin	Ryan	Wheeling	Rolling Green CC	Prospect HS	University of Notre Dame
John	Pope	Willowbrook	Butterfield CC	Hinsdale Central HS	University of Iowa
Logan	Dubansky	Wilmette	Westmoreland CC	New Trier HS	University of Minnesota

* Awarded the Evans Scholarship for three years as they are currently a freshman in college.
** WGA Caddie Academy participant.