Thirteen Colorado students were awarded the Evans Scholarship, a full housing and tuition college grant offered to golf caddies, following a final selection interview at Lakewood Country Club in Lakewood.
Each caddie has a story to tell, reflecting the scholarship's four selection criteria: a strong caddie record; excellent academics; demonstrated financial need; and outstanding character. They will begin college in fall 2019 as Evans Scholars, with recipients awarded to the University of Colorado in Boulder.
The Evans Scholarship has an estimated value of $120,000 over four years.
“Each of these deserving Evans Scholars epitomizes what our program has been about since its creation in 1930,” WGA Chairman Frank Morley said in a news release. “Their dedication, hard work and sacrifice is humbling, and we are honored to be able to help them pursue their dreams.”
The selection meeting at Lakewood Country Club was one of more than 20 such meetings the Evans Scholars Foundation across the country through the spring. When the 2018-19 selection meeting process is completed, an estimated 280 caddies are expected to be awarded the Evans Scholarship.
The Western Golf Association, headquartered in Golf, 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.
A record 985 caddies are enrolled in 18 universities across the nation as Evans Scholars, and more than 10,830 caddies have graduated as Evans Scholars since the program was founded by famed Chicago amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr.
“We were fortunate to have 13 awesome candidates from all over the state of Colorado, and it was the first year we had more women than men,” Geoff Solich, lead WGA Director in Colorado, said in the release. “The Evans Scholars Program will forever change the lives of these young men and women and I am honored to be a part of it.”
Scholarship funds come mostly from contributions by 32,000 golfers across the country, who are members of the Evans Scholars Par Club program. Evans Scholars Alumni donate more than $10 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.
To learn more about the WGA and ESF, visit www.wgaesf.org.
In the Colorado Community Media coverage area, scholarship recipients are:
• Eliannah Angel-Lucero, of Aurora, from Regis Jesiuit High School, sponsored by Cherry Hills Country Club.
• Chloe Bowden, of Castle Rock, from Colorado Early Colleges of Parker, sponsored by Cherry Hills Country Club.
• Anthony Digilarmo, of Denver, from Overland High School, sponsored by Cherry Creek Country Club.
• Carmen Garcia, of Denver, from St. Mary's Academy, sponsored by Cherry Hills Country Club.
• Quinn Hiatt, of Denver, from Overland High School, sponsored by Cherry Hills Country Club.
• Grant Gorman, of Golden, from Lakewood High School, sponsored by The Club at Rolling Hills.
• Amelia Moenster, of Highlands Ranch, from Rock Canyon High School, from Cherry Hills County Club.
• Samuel Dahm, of Parker, from Chaparral High School, sponosred by Colorado Golf Club.
• Michael Corrigan, of Westminster, from Legacy High School, sponsored by Denver Country Club. Corrigan will be a sophomore in the fall.