Two students from Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit High School earn Evans Scholarships

Student caddies earn full college scholarships

GLENVIEW, Ill. – Two students from the Atlanta area have been awarded the Evans Scholarship — a full housing and tuition college grant offered to golf caddies — following a selection meeting interview held Jan. 14 at Capital City Club in Atlanta, Ga.

Trinity Calvin, of Lithonia, and Diana Morales Joaquin, of Atlanta, will begin college in the fall of 2025 as Evans Scholars, with their awarded universities to be announced this spring. The Evans Scholarship is valued at more than $125,000 over four years.

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

The Western Golf Association (WGA), headquartered in Glenview, Ill., oversees the Evans Scholars Program. Recently recognized as the Scholarship Provider of the Year by the National Scholarship Providers Association, the Evans Scholars Foundation (ESF) is one of golf’s favorite charities and the nation’s largest scholarship program for caddies.

“Since our founding, our Program has changed the lives of young caddies who have proven their dedication in the classroom, on the golf course and in their communities,” said WGA Chairman Steve Colnitis. “We are proud to welcome Trinity and Diana to the Evans Scholars family.”

Both young women, who are seniors, found out about the opportunity to caddie through their high school, Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit. Trinity Calvin, who is one of four children, is the first caddie from Cherokee Town & Country Club to earn the Evans Scholarship.

“Working as a caddie allowed me to enhance the values of leadership, collaboration and compassion, and taught me how to read situations,” said Calvin, who plans to study biomedical engineering.

Diana Morales Joaquin, a first-generation college student, was introduced to caddying through the WGA Caddie Academy – a special summer program run by the WGA that provides caddie opportunities to promising high school students. Morales Joaquin caddied at Exmoor Country Club in Highland Park, Ill.

“My journey as a caddie began as a way to support my family financially, but it quickly became much more than just a job,” she said. “Caddying taught me the value of patience and attention to detail and allowed me to connect with a variety of people from different walks of life – teaching me lessons that extend far beyond the golf course.”

With seven branches nationwide, the WGA Caddie Academy offers students a chance to caddie each day, earn money, meet role models and learn valuable life lessons on the golf course. After three summers, participants become eligible to apply for the Evans Scholarship. Since 2012, more than 150 graduates of the WGA Caddie Academy have been awarded an Evans Scholarship.

“As we work to expand youth caddie opportunities in Georgia and across the country, we are elated that these young people have received this life-changing gift,” said Matt Harrison, a WGA Director and member at Cherokee Town & Country Club. “We look forward to seeing all that Trinity and Diana will achieve, as Evans Scholars in college and beyond.”

Currently, a record 1,190 caddies are enrolled at 24 universities across the country as Evans Scholars. More than 12,285 caddies have graduated as Evans Scholars since the Program was founded by famed Chicago amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr. in 1930.

Evans Scholar selection meeting interviews will continue nationwide through the winter. When the 2024-25 selection meeting process is complete, an estimated 360 caddies from across the country are expected to be awarded the Evans Scholarship.

Evans Scholars have a cumulative GPA of 3.3 and a 98 percent graduation rate. An estimated 40 percent are first-generation college students, and 95 percent are employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduating.

Funds for the Evans Scholarship come mostly from contributions by more than 36,000 supporters across the country, who are members of 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 Evans Scholars Foundation. In 2025, the BMW Championship will be held at Caves Valley Golf Club near Baltimore, Md., from Aug. 12-17.