Two student caddies from Old Barnwell Golf Club awarded full college scholarships

Caddies are the third and fourth students from Old Barnwell to earn Evans Scholarships

GLENVIEW, Ill. – Two student caddies from Old Barnwell Golf Club in Aiken, South Carolina, have been awarded the Evans Scholarship, a full housing and tuition college grant offered to golf caddies, following a selection meeting interview held at the golf club on Wednesday, March 4.

Daniella Penaloza and Parker Boyd, both from Aiken, will enroll in college this fall as Evans Scholars at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. 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 demonstrate 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.

Old Barnwell opened in 2024 with a mission of creating a private golf club centered on community, accessibility and opportunity. Founded by Charleston resident Nick Schreiber, the club aims to bring together golfers from all backgrounds while supporting programs that expand access to the game.

Alongside the club’s opening, the WGA partnered with Old Barnwell to launch a youth caddie program to provide local students job opportunities. The program quickly took off, attracting more than 100 youth to take part. The program is part of the ESF’s broader effort to expand youth caddie opportunities in the Southeast and create new pathways for students to earn the Evans Scholarship.

“Our goal at Old Barnwell has always been to create opportunities for young people through the game of golf,” Schreiber said. “Watching Parker and Daniella earn the Evans Scholarship is a proud moment for our entire club and not only shows the life-changing impact a youth caddie program can have but also the incredible momentum we are building throughout the state of South Carolina.”

The caddies are the third and fourth students from Old Barnwell to earn Evans Scholarships, with the first two winners named last year.

Penaloza, a senior at South Aiken High School, plans to pursue a career in occupational therapy. “Caddying helped me reconnect with the game of golf and gave me a sense of purpose during a difficult time in my life,” Penaloza said. “The support I’ve found at Old Barnwell and the opportunity to help others on the course inspired me to pursue a career where I can make a difference in people’s lives.”

Boyd is a three-year Evans Scholar award recipient. He currently is attending the University of South Carolina and double majoring in finance and real estate, with plans to pursue law school. “Caddying has given me the chance to learn from people with incredible careers and perspectives,” Boyd said. “Those conversations, along with the lessons I’ve learned about responsibility and service, helped shape my goals and inspired me to pursue a future in business and law.”

The ESF continues to expand its presence in the Southeast through its new partnership with the University of South Carolina in Columbia. This past fall, leaders from the ESF and the university celebrated the inaugural class of Evans Scholars at South Carolina and dedicated the McCausland Scholarship House, where the students are living together in community.

Currently, a record 1,260 caddies are enrolled at 27 universities across the country as Evans Scholars, including 10 at the University of South Carolina. 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.

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.