Students will begin college this fall as Evans Scholars

GLENVIEW, Ill. – Sixteen students from the state of Indiana have been awarded the Evans Scholarship, a prestigious full housing and tuition college grant offered to golf caddies, following an online selection interview held Jan. 28.

Each caddie has a unique story, reflecting the scholarship’s four selection criteria: a strong caddie record; excellent academics; demonstrated financial need; and outstanding character.
They will begin college in the fall of 2021 as Evans Scholars, attending Purdue University or Indiana University. The Evans Scholarship is valued at an estimated $120,000 over four years. Below is a complete list of winners.

“Each of these deserving young students epitomizes what our Program has been about since its creation in 1930,” said WGA Chairman Kevin Buggy. “Their dedication, hard work and sacrifice is humbling, and we are honored to be able to help them pursue their dreams.”

The selection meeting held via Zoom was one of more than 20 such meetings the Evans Scholars Foundation is holding virtually across the country through the spring. When the 2020-21 selection meeting process is completed by April, an estimated 300 caddies nationwide are expected to be awarded the Evans Scholarship.

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

Currently, a record 1,045 caddies are enrolled in 19 universities across the nation as Evans Scholars, and more than 11,320 caddies have graduated as Evans Scholars since the program was founded by famed Chicago amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr.

“These young students all have shown excellence in the classroom and in their communities, as well as on the golf course,” said John Kaczkowski, WGA President and CEO. “We welcome them to the Evans Scholars family.”

Scholarship funds come mostly from contributions by 32,500 golfers 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 third of four PGA TOUR Playoff events in the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup competition, are donated to the Evans Scholars Foundation. In 2021, the BMW Championship will be held at Caves Valley Golf Club from Aug. 23-29.

This year’s Indiana winners are listed below.

 

Name

City

High School

Sponsoring Club

Awarded University

Kaiden Miller

Fishers

Cathedral High School

Prairie View Golf Club

Purdue University

Sarah Busch

Fort Wayne

Bishop Luers High School

Orchard Ridge CC

Purdue University

Taylor Fritz

Fort Wayne

North Side High School

Fort Wayne CC

Indiana University

Emma Lehner

Fort Wayne

Bishop Luers High School

Fort Wayne CC

Purdue University

Paul Walter

Fort Wayne

Homestead High School

Orchard Ridge CC

Purdue University

Olivia Warden

Fort Wayne

Bishop Dwenger High School

Fort Wayne CC

Purdue University

Benjamin Fencl

Indianapolis

North Central High School

Hillcrest Country Club

Indiana University

Nadia Kimbrough

Indianapolis

International HS of Indiana

Meridian Hills CC

Purdue University

Joseph Schwind

Indianapolis

Homeschool

Meridian Hills CC

Purdue University

Mary Patricia Kelley

Michigan City

Michigan City High School

Long Beach CC

Indiana University

Jenna McCormick

Monticello

Fronteir Jr-Sr High School

Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex

Indiana University

Chase Luginbill*

New Haven

Heritage Jr-Sr High School

Sycamore Hills Golf Club

Purdue University

Samantha Zahl

South Bend

Clay High School

South Bend Country Club

Purdue University

Eli Storey

Terre Haute

Terre Haute South Vigo HS

The CC of Terre Haute

Indiana University

Alejandro Cervantes

Warsaw

Warsaw Community HS

Tippecanoe Lake CC

Indiana University

Meris Shotton

Westfield

Westfield High School

Prairie View Golf Club

Indiana University

 

*Awarded the Evans Scholarship for three years as they are currently a freshman in college.