Inaugural class of Evans Scholars begins school at Arizona State University

Nine Scholars begin fall semester at Program's newest partner university

GLENVIEW, Ill. – The inaugural class of nine Evans Scholars has begun its first semester at Arizona State University in Tempe, marking a major milestone in the partnership between the university and the Evans Scholars Foundation.

The students are the first to attend ASU on full tuition and housing Evans Scholarships. Leaders from the Foundation and ASU announced the partnership in November 2025, making ASU the Program’s 28th partner university.

“Welcoming our first class of Evans Scholars to Arizona State is an important milestone for the students, families and communities that helped make this possible,” said Brandon Rogers, the Western Golf Association’s senior director of caddie development for the Southwest. “These Scholars have worked incredibly hard to reach this point, and they now have an opportunity to grow together as students and leaders. Their arrival at ASU also creates a pathway for younger caddies throughout the Southwest to see what is possible through caddying.”

The Evans Scholarship is a full tuition and housing college grant awarded to student caddies who demonstrate a strong caddie record, excellent academics, financial need and outstanding character. This fall, a record 1,310 Evans Scholars are enrolled at 28 leading universities nationwide.

Among the inaugural ASU Scholars is Favored Olakonu, a caddie at Desert Forest Golf Club. Earlier this year, Olakonu and Ira Goldman, a caddie at Estancia Club, became the first participants from the Arizona Caddie and Leadership Academy to earn the Evans Scholarship.

“Earning the Evans Scholarship has given me the chance to focus on my education at ASU,” Olakonu said. “Being part of the first class is especially exciting because we get to build this community together and help shape it for the Scholars who follow us.”

As the Program grows at ASU, as many as 50 Evans Scholars could eventually attend the university, creating additional opportunities for deserving student caddies from Arizona and across the Southwest. Currently, the first class of students is living together in the San Pablo residence hall but will eventually reside together in Matthews Hall.

The Western Golf Association, which oversees the Evans Scholars Foundation, has continued to expand youth caddying opportunities throughout Arizona. Its Arizona Caddie and Leadership Academy introduces young people to caddying while providing mentorship, leadership development, professional workshops and a potential pathway to the Evans Scholarship.

The Academy operates through public courses in the Phoenix area, including Papago Golf Club and Encanto Golf Course. Youth caddie programs are also developing or expanding at private clubs throughout Arizona.

For more information about the Western Golf Association and Evans Scholars Foundation, visit wgaesf.org.