Evans Scholarships Awarded to Three Washington Caddies

Three high school caddies from the state of Washington have been awarded the Evans Scholarship, a full, four-year housing and tuition college grant offered to golf caddies, following a final selection meeting held at Seattle Golf Club in Seattle, Washington on March 2.

Glenn Miller of Federal Way, Wash. worked as a caddie at Seattle Golf Club; Zachary Peros of Vancouver, Wash. caddied at Royal Oaks Country Club; and Savannah Umali-Jepson of Seattle also worked as a caddie at Seattle Golf Club.

Glenn Miller, Savannah Umali-Jepson and Zachary Peros (From L to R)

Each caddie has a unique 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 the fall of 2017, with recipients awarded to the University of Washington in Seattle. The scholarship is valued at more than $100,000 over four years.

“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.”

The Washington selection meeting was one of more than a dozen such meetings the Evans Scholars Foundation will hold across the country through the spring. When the 2016-17 selection meeting process is completed by April, an estimated 270 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.

Currently, a record 935 caddies are enrolled in 20 universities across the nation as Evans Scholars, and more than 10,400 caddies have graduated as Evans Scholars since the program was founded by famed Chicago amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr.

“Based on their excellence in the classroom and their service to their schools and communities, there is little doubt that these young caddies have worked hard to earn this life-changing opportunity,” said John Kaczkowski, WGA President and CEO. “We welcome them to the Evans Scholars family.”

Scholarship funds come mostly from contributions by 30,000 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