GOLF, Ill. – This fall, a record 1,000 caddies are attending college at 18 top universities across the
country, Evans Scholars Foundation leaders announced today, celebrating a milestone that the
organization has been working toward for the past five years.
The historic achievement of more than 1,000 students in school – 1,010 to be exact – was made
during BMW Championship week celebrations; all proceeds from the PGA TOUR playoff event
benefit the ESF.
“We’re thrilled to announce that we have achieved our goal of having a record 1,000 caddies
enrolled in college,” said WGA President and CEO John Kaczkowski. “At a time when more
families than ever are struggling to send their children to school, we’re meeting the need of
providing Evans Scholarships to young caddies who show strong records of academics,
leadership and financial need. Our Program continues to grow from coast to coast, thanks to our
generous supporters.”
In the 89 years since the first two Evans Scholars enrolled at Northwestern in 1930, thousands of
WGA Directors, donors and staff have worked diligently to build the Evans Scholars Program from
a small, local initiative into the nation’s largest caddie scholarship program and one of golf’s
favorite charities. The prestigious Evans Scholars Program now has more than 11,000 Alumni.
Current Evans Scholars are leaders on their college campuses, achieving a 3.3 cumulative GPA
and a 95 percent graduation rate.
Scholars are playing a major role during BMW Championship week, beginning with the Program’s
annual Summer Outing banquet on Sunday, Aug. 11, at Medinah Country Club. Evans Scholars
Alex Umali from the University of Illinois, AJ Folino from Marquette University, and Ola Grabowski
from Northwestern University were named the 2019 Evans Scholars of the Year, the top honor a
student can receive within the Evans Scholars Program.
On Monday, Aug. 12, the Program held its “Caddies to College” celebration, shining the spotlight
on the WGA-run Caddie Academy program. Justin Rose was the featured speaker at the
fundraising event, and Evans Scholar Sarahi Ortiz talked about how caddying and earning the
scholarship changed her life. To learn more, visit www.wgaesf.org.
About the Evans Scholars Foundation
Established by famed amateur golfer Charles Chick Evans Jr., the Evans Scholars Foundation provides full
housing and tuition college scholarships to high-achieving caddies from across the country. The Program,
supported by the Western Golf Association, is funded by contributions from more than 32,500 donors
nationwide, including Evans Scholars Alumni, as well as proceeds from WGA championships. Since the
Program’s inception in 1930, more than 11,000 caddies nationwide have graduated as Evans Scholars. To
learn more, visit www.wgaesf.org.
