Three student caddies from Western Pennsylvania earn full scholarships to college

Students will begin college as Evans Scholars this fall

GLENVIEW, Ill. – Three students from Western Pennsylvania have been awarded the Evans Scholarship — a full housing and tuition college grant offered to golf caddies — following selection meeting interviews held virtually and at South Hills Country Club in Pittsburgh, Pa., in February.

Robert Brim of Fairview, Pa., Levi Roupas of Oakmont, Pa., and Connor Dusch of Pittsburgh, Pa. will begin college this fall as Evans Scholars. Brim and Dusch are expected to attend Penn State University in State College, while Roupas, a current student at the University of Maryland, will become an Evans Scholar there. The Evans Scholarship is valued at more than $125,000 over four years.

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.

The Western Golf Association (WGA), headquartered in Glenview Illinois, has supported the Chick Evans Scholarship Program through the Evans Scholars Foundation (ESF) since 1930. Known as one of golf’s favorite charities, it is the nation’s largest scholarship program for caddies.

Brim is a senior at Fairview High School in Fairview and caddied at The Kahkwa Club in Erie. Roupas is a graduate of Riverview High School in Oakmont and caddied at Oakmont Country Club. Dusch is a senior at Brentwood High School in Brentwood and caddied at South Hills Country Club in Pittsburgh.

“These three young men have distinguished themselves through dedication on the golf course and in the classroom,” said Joe Fields, a WGA Director and the East Coast Co-Chair. “Caddying teaches responsibility, perseverance and service to others, and Robert, Levi and Connor have embraced those values. We are proud to welcome them as Evans Scholars.”

Currently, a record 1,260 caddies are enrolled at 27 universities across the country as Evans Scholars, including 43 at Penn State. More than 12,575 caddies have graduated as Evans Scholars since the Program was founded by famed Chicago amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr. in 1930.

Connor Dusch, from Pittsburgh, caddies at South Hills. Through caddying, he developed confidence, leadership skills and a strong sense of responsibility while balancing academics, athletics and work.

“Caddying taught me the value of discipline, accountability and building relationships,” Dusch said. “The Evans Scholarship gives me the opportunity to study computer science and data analytics at Penn State while continuing to grow as a leader and stay connected to the game of golf.”

Selection meeting interviews will continue nationwide through spring. By the end of the 2025-26 selection process, an estimated 380 caddies from across the country are expected to receive 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 96 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 43,500 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 2026, the BMW Championship will be held at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis, Missouri, from Aug. 18-23.