Evans Scholarships awarded to 30 Michigan caddies

Story re-posted from the Western Golf Association/Evans Scholars Foundation Website – wgaefs.org

Students will begin college this fall as Evans Scholars

GLENVIEW, Ill. – Thirty students from the state of Michigan 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. 7.

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 either Michigan State University or University of Michigan, where they will live in the Evans Scholarship House. 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 Michigan winners are listed below.

Name	City	High School	Sponsoring Club	Awarded University
Michael McGrath	Beverly Hills	Everest Academy	Birmingham CC	Michigan State University
Timothy Nelson	Bloomfield Hills	Brother Rice High School	Oakland Hills CC	University of Michigan
John Nelson	Bloomfield Hills	Brother Rice High School	Oakland Hills CC	University of Michigan
Donna Proctor*	Bloomfield Township	West Bloomfield High School	Forest Lake CC	Michigan State University
Jordan Fansler	Chelsea	Chelsea High School	Barton Hills CC	University of Michigan
Billy Morris	Commerce Township	Walled Lake Northern HS	Edgewood CC	University of Michigan
Jacob Bush	Davisburg	Holly High School	Franklin Hills CC	Michigan State University
Christyanna Griffin	Detroit	Cass Technical High School	CC of Detroit	Michigan State University
Cameron Henry	Detroit	Detroit Cristo Rey High School	Detroit Golf Club	University of Michigan
Bianca Holsey	Detroit	Cass Technical High School	CC of Detroit	Michigan State University
Melvin Thomas*	Farmington Hills	North Farmington High School	Plum Hollow CC	Michigan State University
Daniel Newbold	Frankfort	Frankfort High School	Crystal Downs CC	Michigan State University
Charles Klatt	Grosse Pointe Woods	Grosse Pointe North HS	CC of Detroit	University of Michigan
Jeremiah Bethke	Harbor Springs	Concord Academy	Wequetonsing GC	Michigan State University
Brendan Blood	Jackson	Jackson High School	CC of Jackson	Michigan State University
Joseph McComb	Livonia	Catholic Central High School	Western G & CC	Michigan State University
Conner Wilczewski	Novi	Walled Lake Northern HS	Red Run GC	Michigan State University
Mario Migaldi	Okemos	Okemos High School	CC of Lansing	University of Michigan
Jacob Patterson*	Redford	Clarenceville High School	Western G & CC	Michigan State University
Olivia Howell-Hummel	Rockford	Rockford High School	Blythefield CC	University of Michigan
Briggs Maloney	Rockford	Rockford High School	Blythefield CC	Michigan State University
Lawrence Stanley	Romulus	Huron High School	Grosse Ile G & CC	University of Michigan
Jillian Gaddie	Saint Clair Shores	Regina Catholic High School	Lochmoor Club	Michigan State University
Steven Jarecki	Saint Clair Shores	Grosse Pointe North HS	Lochmoor Club	Michigan State University
Jacob Melvin	Saint Clair Shores	Lakeview High School	Lochmoor Club	Michigan State University
Aiden Bettig	Sawyer	River Valley High School	Dunes Club	Michigan State University
Joseph Sorgi III*	Shelby Township	Henry Ford II High School	Red Run GC	Michigan State University
Natalie Dobbs	Southgate	Trenton High School	Western G & CC	University of Michigan
Brock Strebeck	Stevensville	Lakeshore High School	Point O’ Woods G & CC	Michigan State University
Kacey Ellis	Waterford	Waterford Kettering HS	Plum Hollow CC	University of Michigan