Eight Philadelphia-area caddies earn full scholarships

Students will begin college this fall as Platt Evans Scholars

GLENVIEW, Ill. – Eight students from the Philadelphia area were recently named recipients of the Platt Evans Scholarship, a full housing and tuition college grant awarded to golf caddies.

The result of a partnership between the Western Golf Association’s Evans Scholars Foundation and the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust, Platt Evans Scholars are chosen based on showing a strong caddie record, excellent academics, demonstrated financial need and outstanding character. The recipients will attend Penn State University in University Park this fall. Below is a complete list of winners.

Recipients were awarded the Platt Evans Scholarship following a selection meeting held virtually on Feb. 10. This is the eighth year of the partnership between the ESF and the J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust.

“Our relationship with the Evans Scholars Foundation allows us to serve and support amazing, bright and hardworking young men and women reach their potential and achieve a college education,” said Tina Gregor, Chairwoman of the J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust.

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, 300 caddies nationwide are expected to be awarded the Evans Scholarship.

“Based on their excellence in the classroom and their service to their schools and communities, these young students have certainly earned this life-changing opportunity,” said local WGA Director and Evans Alum Frank Polizzi. “We welcome them to the Evans Scholars family.”

Half of this year’s recipients were members of the Eastern Caddie Academy, a special summer program run by the WGA that provides caddie opportunities to under-resourced high school students who ultimately hope to pursue a Platt Evans Scholarship. This program offers students the chance to caddie each day, earn money, meet role models and learn valuable life lessons on the golf course. After completing three summers, participants are eligible to apply for the Platt Evans Scholarship.

This year’s Platt Evans Scholars, who will be attending Penn State this fall, are listed below.