The words “life-changing” are sometimes thrown around casually. But when people use them when speaking of the Evans Scholarship for caddies, they never seem to ring hollow.
Peter Evans, an Evans Scholar at the University of Colorado, recently put into words what thousands of Scholars have felt when they realize their good fortune in being awarded full tuition and housing to college thanks to the brainchild of Charles “Chick” Evans.
“It was a dream of Chick Evans,” Peter Evans noted in a recent speech at a CU Evans Scholars house function. “He believed in a bunch of poor caddies — and it turned out so well.”
And now, at least 12 more Colorado caddies will get to share in the experience, following in the footsteps of more than 10,400 Evans Scholars alums nationwide, plus roughly 935 currently in school. It’s now estimated that the scholarship is worth an average of more than $100,000 if renewed for four years.
On Monday, the Illinois-based Western Golf Association/Evans Scholars Foundation, which administers the Evans Scholarship, announced the new recipients from Colorado, who will begin school at CU in the fall semester. The finalists for the scholarship were interviewed by a group of about 130 people on Jan. 18 at a selection meeting at Cherry Hills Country Club, home to the largest caddie program in the state.
The WGA has long partnered with the CGA and CWGA in supporting the scholarship at CU. The Evans Scholarship, awarded to high-achieving caddies with significant financial need, is a flagship program for both the CGA and CWGA. Through CGA and CWGA bag-tag sales and Par Club contributions, Colorado donors fully fund the year-to-year scholarship costs at the CU Evans Scholars house.
To qualify for an Evans Scholarship, applicants must have excellent caddie records and academic results, show strong character and leadership, and demonstrate financial need.
The new recipients include 10 young men and two young women. Of the dozen, three caddied at Cherry Hills, three at Denver Country Club and two at Boulder Country Club. A record-tying four new Scholars started caddying at the Solich Caddie & Leadership Academy at CommonGround Golf Course before graduating to Denver CC or Cherry Hills CC. Four recipients reside in Aurora.
Overall, they’ve averaged a 3.625 grade-point average and a 27.4 ACT score. Six are members of the National Honor Society.
“Each of these deserving Evans Scholars epitomizes what our program has been about since its creation in 1930,” said WGA chairman David Robinson. “Their dedication, hard work and sacrifice is humbling, and we are honored to be able to help them pursue their dreams.”
Here’s the rundown of the dozen new Evans Scholars from Colorado:
— Ayanna Hwang of Aurora, Smoky Hill HS, caddied at Cherry Hills Country Club.
— Isaiah Monroe of Denver, Cherry Creek HS (2016 graduate), caddied at Cherry Hills Country Club. Was a freshman at Metropolitan State University of Denver in the fall.
— Ian Sevier Barrios of Aurora, Regis Jesuit HS, caddied at Solich Caddie & Leadership Academy at CommonGround Golf Course and at Cherry Hills Country Club.
— Joshua Garcia of Denver (pictured at top), Faith Christian Academy, caddied at Solich Caddie & Leadership Academy at CommonGround Golf Course and at Denver Country Club.
— Kalil Miles of Aurora, Aurora Central HS, caddied at Solich Caddie & Leadership Academy at CommonGround Golf Course and at Denver Country Club.
— Madison Rivas of Aurora (left), Overland HS, caddied at Solich Caddie & Leadership Academy at CommonGround Golf Course and at Denver Country Club.
— Quinton Kelly of Littleton, Dakota Ridge HS, caddied at Bear Creek Golf Club.
— Richard J. Biggs of Lakewood, Bear Creek HS, caddied at Lakewood Country Club.
— Dietrich Berning of Longmont, Silver Creek HS, caddied at Boulder Country Club.
— Elias King of Lafayette (below), Fairview HS, caddied at Boulder Country Club.
— J. Creek Kamby of Edwards, Battle Mountain HS, caddied at Country Club of the Rockies.
— Jack Cohan of Basalt, Aspen HS, caddied at Roaring Fork Club.
At least two of the above will be the first in their family to go to college.
The 12 averaged 112 caddie loops, with Cohan accumulating 200 and Barrios 180.
“Based on their excellence in the classroom and their service to their schools and communities, there is little doubt that these young men and women have earned this life-changing opportunity,” said John Kaczkowski, WGA president and CEO. “We welcome them to the Evans Scholars family.”
The Evans Scholarship, one of the nation’s largest privately funded scholarship programs, was established in 1930 by Chick Evans, winner of the 1916 U.S. Open and two U.S. Amateurs.
Nationwide, there are Evans Scholars at 20 universities, 15 which feature E.S. houses. The scholarship has produced 10,412 graduates, including about 450 from CU since the 1960s. Roughly 270 scholarships are expected to be awarded for the incoming class of 2017-18.
Over the last 87 years, the Evans Scholarship has provided more than $348 million worth of tuition and housing to caddies. The scholarship costs for Evans Scholars in 2016 were $17.6 million.
Evans Scholars typically excel academically, with a cumulative college GPA of 3.2, and a 95 percent graduation rate. In the fall semester, the CU Evans Scholars averaged a 3.3 GPA.Ӭ
For those interested in donating to the Evans Scholars Foundation, CLICK HERE.
Short and Sweet: This month’s Evans Scholars Selection Meeting was the ninth of an anticipated 15 that will be held nationwide during this academic year. The number of people in attendance at Cherry Hills — about 130 — was among the most for any selection meetings the WGA holds. … Among those in attendance at Cherry Hills was WGA president and CEO John Kaczkowski, along with numerous WGA directors, staff and supporters; Evans Scholar alums; several staffers and leaders from both the CGA and CWGA; and some head golf professionals and others from the Colorado golf industry. … Almost 60 caddies currently reside at the CU Evans Scholars house, with about a quarter being young women. The CU house underwent a $6 million renovation and expansion, with the project concluding a year ago… A record 780 caddies applied for the Evans Scholarship this academic year, including 34 in Colorado. … Former WGA chairman Jim Bunch, a Denver resident, recently was recognized for having served as a WGA director for 25 years.
