From 12 students to a national program

GLENVIEW, Ill. – The Western Golf Association's (WGA) Caddie Academy is celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2026, marking a milestone for a program that has helped hundreds of young people discover new opportunities through caddying, personal development and the pursuit of higher education.

The Caddie Academy provides summer caddie opportunities to at-promise high school students who demonstrate outstanding academics, leadership and character. During the seven-week residential program, participants earn money through caddying while taking part in academic enrichment, leadership development, community service and personal growth opportunities designed to prepare them for success in college and beyond.

What began in 2012 with 12 participants has grown into a nationally recognized summer enrichment program serving more than 170 students in 2026 across Illinois, Ohio, Minnesota, Seattle and Washington, D.C. To date, more than 245 Caddie Academy alumni have gone on to earn the Evans Scholarship, a full tuition and housing college scholarship awarded to high-achieving caddies.

"The program has evolved tremendously over the last 15 years," said Kara Chin, the WGA’s Senior Director of Caddie Academy & Scholarships. "What stands out most is the level of holistic support we now provide. The Caddie Academy is about much more than teaching students how to caddie. We want students to leave understanding the value of hard work, kindness and perseverance. Whether they pursue the Evans Scholarship or another path, the skills they develop here will help them succeed wherever life takes them."

Participants are selected during their freshman year of high school and spend three summers in the program. Through classroom instruction and on-course training, they learn the fundamentals of golf and caddying while developing valuable life skills. Students also participate in leadership speaker series events, financial literacy workshops, health and wellness programming, golf instruction and educational field trips.

This summer also marks the launch of the eighth Caddie Academy chapter, based out of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Evans Scholarship House. The program will run from June 21 to August 8, with participants living on campus and caddying at Atkins Golf Club in Urbana, expanding access to the program for more young women across the state of Illinois.

For Joanna Hernandez, the WGA’s Senior Manager of Caddie Academy & Scholarships and a member of the program's inaugural class in 2012, the growth of the Academy is especially meaningful.

"When I joined the first Caddie Academy class, I had no idea how much the experience would shape my future," Hernandez said. "Being away from home taught me independence, but it also showed me the value of leaning on others and building a support network. Those lessons stayed with me throughout college and into my career."

Applications for the 2027 WGA Caddie Academy will be available on Dec. 1, 2026, to students currently in their freshman year of high school who demonstrate character, leadership, academic achievement and financial need.

For more information about the WGA Caddie Academy, eligibility requirements and how to apply, visit wgacaddieacademy.org.