March 25, 2025

Evans Scholarships awarded to more than 130 Illinois caddies

New class of Evans Scholars will begin school this fall

GLENVIEW, IL – More than 130 students from the state of Illinois have been awarded the Evans Scholarship – a full housing and tuition college grant offered to golf caddies.

This fall, they will begin college as Evans Scholars, attending a leading university nationwide. The Evans Scholarship is valued at more than $125,000 over four years. A full list of winners, including their awarded universities, can be found in the attachment.

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.

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.

“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 this new class from the state of Illinois to the Evans Scholars family.”

Currently, a record 1,190 caddies are enrolled at 24 universities nationwide as Evans Scholars – including 42 at Northwestern University, seven at University of Chicago, 134 at the University of Illinois and 65 at the University of Illinois Chicago. 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.

The Illinois group is part of a record class of 360 caddies from across the country who 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 seven chapters nationwide — including three 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.

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.

First Name	Last Name	Hometown	Sponsoring Club	High School	University
Jocelyn	Morales	Addison	River Forest CC	Addison Trail HS	University of Illinois, Champaign
Mateo Rafael	Barba	Antioch	Merit Club	Antioch Community HS	Northwestern University, Evanston
Anabela	Paniagua	Aurora	Stonebridge CC	West Aurora HS	University of Missouri, Columbia
Ryan	Vagnoni*	Aurora	Butterfield CC	Aurora Central Catholic HS	University of Illinois, Chicago
Jacob	Cioch	Bartlett	Medinah CC	Bartlett HS	University of Wisconsin, Madison
Alfredo	Chavez	Bensenville	River Forest CC	West Leyden HS	University of Illinois, Chicago
Caleb	Diego	Bensenville	River Forest CC	Wheaton Academy	University of Illinois, Chicago
Liliana	De La Torre	Berwyn	Riverside GC	Fenwick HS	University of Illinois, Champaign
Natalie	Fuentes*	Berwyn	Ruth Lake CC	Fenwick HS	University of Wisconsin, Madison
Valerie	Ochoa	Berwyn	Riverside GC	J. Sterling Morton West HS	University of Illinois, Champaign
Antonia	Nunamaker	Bloomingdale	Medinah CC	Glenbard East HS	University of Minnesota
Myah	Pacheco	Brookfield	Oak Park CC	Hinsdale Central HS	University of Illinois, Chicago
Amisadael	Mendez**	Calumet City	Sunset Ridge CC	Cristo Rey Jesuit HS	University of Illinois, Chicago
Semeon	Alazar	Chicago	Lake Shore CC	Saint Ignatius College Prep	Marquette University
Richelle	Asamoah	Chicago	Medinah CC	Saint Ignatius College Prep	Howard University
Charles	Ashley*	Chicago	Briarwood CC	New Trier HS	University of Kansas, Lawrence
Michael	Carroll	Chicago	Ridge CC	Brother Rice HS	University of Iowa
Janessa	Centeno**	Chicago	Glen Club	Chicago Hope Academy	University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Liberty	Cunningham**	Chicago	Westmoreland CC	Saint Ignatius College Prep	University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Patrick	Flannery	Chicago	Beverly CC	Brother Rice HS	University of Notre Dame
Cassandra	Garcia	Chicago	Glen Oak CC	Jones College Prep HS	University of Illinois, Champaign
Naomi	Garcia*	Chicago	Olympia Fields CC	Bishop Noll Institute	University of Illinois, Champaign
Gabriel	Gomez**	Chicago	Park Ridge CC	John Hancock College Prep HS	University of Illinois, Champaign
Jose	Hernandez	Chicago	Skokie CC	Saint Laurence HS	University of Missouri
Irvin	Hernandez	Chicago	Sunset Ridge CC	Saint Laurence HS	University of Illinois, Chicago
Nevaeh	Jean-Pierre**	Chicago	Exmoor CC	Jones College Prep	Marquette University
Juan	Juarez	Chicago	Exmoor CC	Cristo Rey Jesuit HS	University of Illinois, Chicago
Noah	Landaverde	Chicago	Sunset Ridge CC	De La Salle Institute	University of Illinois, Champaign
Zariyah	Lemon	Chicago	La Grange CC	Saint Laurence HS	University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Dillon	Madkins	Chicago	Sankaty Head GC (MA)	Francis W. Parker School	University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Megan	McNicholas-Virosztko	Chicago	Briar Ridge CC (IN)	Bishop Noll Institute	University of Illinois, Champaign
Erika	Mendez**	Chicago	Twin Orchard CC	Von Steuben HS	Marquette University
Arturo	Mendoza	Chicago	Shoreacres	Saint Laurence HS	University of Illinois, Champaign
Alyssa	Meyer	Chicago	Bryn Mawr CC	Taft HS	Miami University
Jack	Nelson	Chicago	Ridgemoor CC	Saint Patrick HS	University of Illinois, Champaign
Declan	O'Malley*	Chicago	Ridgemoor CC	Saint Patrick HS	Marquette University
Miguelangel	Paez	Chicago	Skokie CC	Deerfield Academy	University of Illinois, Champaign
Molly	Ross	Chicago	Beverly CC	Saint Ignatius College Prep	Miami University
Camilla	Ruelas**	Chicago	Onwentsia Club	Fenwick HS	University of Illinois, Champaign
Dyana	Santoyo**	Chicago	Onwentsia Club	Woodlands Academy	University of Illinois, Chicago
Audrey	Styczynski	Chicago	Beverly CC	Saint Ignatius College Prep	University of Iowa
J’Niyah	Turner	Chicago	Glen Oak CC	Holy Trinity HS	Howard University
Camden	Wilson	Chicago	Ridge CC	Brother Rice HS	University of Iowa
Caitlin	O'Brien	Chicago Ridge	Midlothian CC	Marist HS	University of Illinois, Champaign
Nicole	Herrera**	Cicero	Knollwood Club	La Lumiere School	University of Wisconsin, Madison
Temuujin	Enkhbayar	Des Plaines	Glen View Club	Maine East HS	University of Illinois, Champaign
Piotr	Trochimowicz*	Des Plaines	Park Ridge CC	Northridge Prep School	TBD
Colin	Finn	Downers Grove	Hinsdale GC	Downers Grove North HS	University of Illinois, Champaign
Ian	Diaz	Elgin	Elgin CC	Elgin HS	University of Illinois, Chicago
Camden	Sarallo	Elgin	Elgin CC	Burlington Central HS	University of Kansas
Chloe	Cummins	Elmhurst	River Forest CC	Chesterton Academy	Marquette University, Milwaukee
Matthew	Hamblin	Elmhurst	River Forest CC	York Community HS	University of Iowa
Clare	Sullivan	Elmhurst	River Forest CC	Chesterton Academy	Marquette University
Mikenna	Doyle	Elmwood Park	Oak Park CC	Resurrection College Prep HS	Marquette University
Michelle	Sapeta	Elmwood Park	Oak Park CC	Elmwood Park HS	University of South Carolina, Columbia
Livia	Sina	Elmwood Park	Oak Park CC	Elmwood Park HS	University of Wisconsin, Madison
Amelia	Schuman	Evanston	Westmoreland CC	Evanston Township HS	University of Illinois, Champaign
James	Crane	Evergreen Park	Ridge CC	Brother Rice HS	University of Illinois, Champaign
Brian	Sheehan	Evergreen Park	Beverly CC	Brother Rice HS	University of Missouri
Sarina	Nayden	Frankfort	Prestwick CC	Lincoln-Way East HS	Northwestern University, Evanston
Natalie	Ramirez	Glenview	Evanston GC	Glenbrook South HS	University of Iowa
Alexander	Wessel	Glenview	Sunset Ridge CC	Glenbrook South HS	University of Kansas
Caleb	Bicket	Gurnee	Knollwood Club	Warren Township HS	University of Illinois, Champaign
Sherman	Flores	Gurnee	Indian Hill Club	Warren Township HS	Northwestern University
James	Riemer	Gurnee	Merit Club	Warren Township HS	University of Illinois, Chicago
Damian	Kulman	Hickory Hills	Ruth Lake CC	Amos Alonzo Stagg HS	University of Illinois, Chicago
Caitlin	Nugent	Highland Park	Exmoor CC	Highland Park HS	University of Illinois, Champaign
Saul	De Yta	Highwood	Exmoor CC	Highland Park HS	University of Illinois, Chicago
Shane	Bruin	Homer Glen	Edgewood Valley CC	Providence Catholic HS	University of Iowa
Clare	Ruddy	Homer Glen	Edgewood Valley CC	Providence Catholic HS	Miami University
Liam	Watson	Indian Head Park	Edgewood Valley CC	Lyons Township HS North	University of Kansas
Vincent	Merola*	Itasca	Medinah CC	Lake Park HS	University of Illinois, Chicago
John	Harrington	La Grange	Chicago Highlands Club	Saint Patrick HS	University of Illinois, Champaign
Rachel	Chavez*	Lake in the Hills	Butterfield CC	Lyons Township HS North	University of Kansas
Allan	Lavrov	Lake Zurich	Twin Orchard CC	Lake Zurich HS	Marquette University
Kyle	Sopkin	Lake Zurich	Club at Wynstone	Lake Zurich HS	University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Lilyan	Ryan	Lemont	Edgewood Valley CC	Lemont HS	Marquette University
Madilyn	Lopez	Lockport	Crystal Tree Golf & CC	Lockport Township HS East	University of Iowa
Lauren	Wilson	Lombard	Hinsdale GC	Fenwick HS	Northwestern University, Evanston
Eric	Atkins**	Matteson	North Shore CC	Ogden School of Chicago	University of Illinois, Chicago
Aiden	Hull	McHenry	McHenry CC	McHenry West HS	University of Illinois, Chicago
Peter	Widhalm	McHenry	McHenry CC	Chesterton Academy	University of Illinois, Champaign
Grace	Miceli	Melrose Park	Oak Park CC	Saint Ignatius College Prep	University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana
Isabelle	Nichols	Mendon	Quincy CC	Unity HS	University of Missouri
Nathan	Michaels	Mokena	Olympia Fields CC	Lincoln-Way Central HS	University of Missouri
Luke	Bubacz	Monee	Olympia Fields CC	Marian Catholic HS	University of Illinois, Chicago
Tabraik	Hamid	Morton Grove	Westmoreland CC	Niles North HS	University of Michigan
Barbara	Martinez	Mount Prospect	Glen View Club	Rolling Meadows HS	University of Missouri
Nicholas	Selimos	Mundelein	Ivanhoe Club	Mundelein HS	University of Illinois, Chicago
Erin	Arnold	Naperville	Cress Creek CC	Naperville North HS	Northwestern University, Evanston
Blake	Coffman	Naperville	Cress Creek CC	Naperville North HS	University of Illinois, Champaign
Peter	Schneider	Naperville	Naperville CC	Saint Francis HS	University of Iowa
Brandon	Elizondo	North Riverside	Riverside GC	Riverside Brookfield HS	University of Kansas
James	DeRose	Northlake	Glen View Club	IC Catholic Prep	University of Illinois, Champaign
Jose	Fragoso	Northlake	River Forest CC	West Leyden HS	University of Illinois, Champaign
Lillian	Everitt	Oak Forest	Midlothian CC	Oak Forest HS	University of Iowa
Aiden	Kelly	Oak Forest	Midlothian CC	Oak Forest HS	University of South Carolina, Columbia
Ethan	Nutile	Oak Forest	Midlothian CC	Oak Forest HS	Miami University, Oxford
Sarah	Smith	Oak Forest	Midlothian CC	Victor J Andrew HS	University of Illinois, Champaign
Anthony	Wiseman*	Oak Forest	Midlothian CC	Mount Carmel HS	Marquette University
Isabel	Stickney	Oak Park	Oak Park CC	Oak Park & River Forest HS	Northwestern University, Evanston
Riley	Kelly	Orland Park	Beverly CC	Carl Sandburg HS	University of Kansas
Greg	Benke	Palos Hills	Ruth Lake CC	Amos Alonzo Stagg HS	University of Illinois, Champaign
Victorio	Basile	Palos Park	Crystal Tree Golf & CC	Brother Rice HS	University of Missouri
Saul	Flores	Park City	Indian Hill Club	Warren Township HS	University of Missouri
Kate	Dunleavy	Park Ridge	Park Ridge CC	Maine South HS	University of Illinois, Champaign
Seamus	Stanton	Park Ridge	North Shore CC	Maine South HS	Marquette University
Anthony	Rodriguez	Phoenix	Olympia Fields CC	Thornton Township HS	University of Illinois, Champaign
Camila	Herrera	Plainfield	Northmoor CC	Plainfield Central HS	University of Illinois, Champaign
Yoseline	De La Rosa	Posen	Olympia Fields CC	Bremen HS	University of Notre Dame
Nayeli	Lozano	Posen	Olympia Fields CC	Bremen HS	University of Illinois, Champaign
Olivia	Strozak	Prospect Heights	Ravinia Green CC	Saint Viator HS	University of Kansas, Lawrence
Caroline	Vietzen	River Forest	Oak Park CC	Oak Park & River Forest HS	University of Notre Dame
Kacper	Kwela	River Grove	Ridgemoor CC	Saint Patrick HS	University of Notre Dame
Bryana	Garcia	Roselle	Medinah CC	Lake Park HS	University of Illinois, Chicago
Ashlyn	Bean	Round Lake	Ivanhoe Club	Grayslake Central HS	University of Illinois, Champaign
Philippe	Gonzalez	Round Lake	Kemper Lakes GC	Carmel Catholic HS	University of Illinois, Champaign
Pedro	Pablo	Round Lake	Twin Orchard CC	Grayslake Central HS	University of Illinois, Champaign
Natalie	Poloyko	Round Lake Beach	Ivanhoe Club	Grayslake North HS	University of Missouri
Magdalena	Zalesinski	Schaumburg	Medinah CC	James B. Conant HS	University of Illinois, Chicago
Hawa	Hashimi	Skokie	Evanston GC	Niles North HS	University of Wisconsin, Madison
Sophie	Morawski	Sleepy Hollow	Biltmore CC	Dundee-Crown HS	University of Illinois, Champaign
Paige	Koehler	Tinley Park	Midlothian CC	Lincoln-Way East HS	University of Missouri
Katelyn	Rohead*	Tinley Park	Olympia Fields CC	Victor J Andrew HS	University of Illinois, Champaign
Josue	Sandoval	Vernon Hills	Skokie CC	Vernon Hills HS	University of Illinois, Champaign
Jesse	Espiritusanto	Waukegan	Merit Club	Carmel Catholic HS	University of Kansas
Lizbeth	Mancera	Waukegan	Briarwood CC	Cristo Rey St. Martin HS	University of Kansas
Yeleyni	Ortega**	Waukegan	Ivanhoe Club	Cristo Rey St. Martin HS	University of Wisconsin, Madison
Hailey	Pierce	West Dundee	Barrington Hills CC	Dundee-Crown HS	University of Illinois, Champaign
Callie	Devine*	Westmont	Hinsdale GC	Westmont HS	Purdue University
Kaley	McCabe	Wheaton	Chicago GC	Wheaton Warrenville South HS	University of Illinois, Champaign
Alan	Aguilar	Wheeling	Skokie CC	Wheeling HS	University of Illinois, Chicago
Marina	Ilic	Willow Springs	Edgewood Valley CC	Argo HS	Northwestern University
Grace	Panice	Willowbrook	Ruth Lake CC	Hinsdale Central HS	Miami University
Trey	Neuhart	Woodstock	Crystal Lake CC	Woodstock HS	University of Illinois, Champaign
Hailey	Peterson	Woodstock	Bull Valley GC	Woodstock HS	University of Illinois, Champaign
Finndan	Pivnicka	Woodstock	Bull Valley GC	Marian Central Catholic HS	University of Iowa
* Awarded the Evans Scholarship for three years (current college freshman) ** WGA Caddie Academy participant