Two students from Palm Beach area earn Evans Scholarships

Evans Scholars will begin college this fall

GLENVIEW, Ill. – Two students from the Palm Beach, Fla. area, have been awarded the Evans Scholarship — a full housing and tuition college grant offered to golf caddies — following a selection meeting interview held March 4 at Old Marsh Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

This fall, they will begin college as Evans Scholars. Chandler Cantwell, of Palm Beach Gardens, will attend the University of South Carolina in Columbia, and Isabella Cecere, of North Palm Beach, will attend the University of Delaware in Newark. 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 Chandler and Isabella to the Evans Scholars family.”

Cantwell, who caddied at Seminole Golf Club, is the fifth caddie from the club to be awarded the Evans Scholarship. A senior at William T. Dwyer High School, he plans to study business in college.

“My avenue into the game of golf is through my dad, who was fortunate enough to have earned a job caddying at Seminole, where he is going into his 20th season,” he said. “Caddying helped me come out of my shell. Seminole has built my character, helping me to develop a great respect and appreciation for its membership, as well as the game of golf.”

Cecere, who caddied at Old Marsh Golf Club, is the second caddie from the club to be awarded the Evans Scholarship. A senior at Dreyfoos School of the Arts, she plans to study nursing in college.

“From the day I was born, golf has been an immensely important aspect of my life,” she said. “It provided support for my father – a widowed, single dad striving to advance his videography career – while also fostering a strong bond between us over countless hours at the driving range. Golf has consistently offered me something to look forward to, introducing me to a vibrant community of individuals who share my passion for the sport.”

She discovered caddying as a result of being a participant in the First Tee – Florida Golf Coast.  

“We are so excited and proud of Bella,” said Carl J. Mistretta Jr., CEO of the First Tee – Florida Golf Coast. “She is our fifth student to earn this incredible life-changing scholarship.  Our partnership with the Evans Scholarship continues to grow every year as more golf clubs participate in the program and invite teens to caddie.”

Currently, a record 1,190 caddies are enrolled at 24 universities across the country as Evans Scholars – including seven from Florida. 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.

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.  Cantwell and Cecere are part of a growing number of students from the state of Florida to earn an Evans Scholarship in recent years.

“As we continue to expand access to youth caddie opportunities across the state of Florida, we are so proud to have two academically strong caddies receive this life-changing gift,” said John Hand, a WGA Director and member at Seminole Golf Club. “We hope they will inspire more young people from Florida to seek out the best summer job opportunity there is – caddying.”

The interviews at Old Marsh conclude the Evans Scholars Program’s 2024-25 selection meeting season, in which 360 caddies from across the country have been 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.