This summer, nine female high school students in Washington were invited to participate in the Western Golf Association’s (WGA) second annual Seattle Caddie Academy.

The Seattle Caddie Academy, one of four chapters of the WGA’s seven-week youth caddie program, provides summer work opportunities to promising students who ultimately hope to pursue the Evans Scholarship, a full college tuition and housing grant, after completing the three-year program. This summer, the Seattle Caddie Academy participants are living together in the University of Washington Evans Scholarship House and caddying at Seattle Golf Club and Broadmoor Golf Club.

The nine young students are Esther Yapjoco (Everett), Tadu Dollarhide (Port Townsend), Beza Honelign (Puyallup), Bruktayt Worku (Seattle), Heaven Shibeshi (Seattle), Blen Assegid (Seattle), El Shaddai Fessehatsion (Seattle), Iris Too (Seattle), and Rose Darley (Shoreline).

“After a wonderful inaugural summer last year, we are excited to expand the Seattle chapter, welcoming back four past participants and five new students who will learn invaluable life lessons on the golf course,” said Sarahi Ortiz, manager of Caddie Academy and Education at the WGA.

Participants, who all have financial need and strong academics, are selected to take part in the Caddie Academy during their freshman year of high school. On the golf course, students earn money, meet role models and learn invaluable life lessons. After successfully completing three summers, they become eligible to apply for the Evans Scholarship.

Most Caddie Academy participants are minorities and have an average household income of $30,000, and since most of Caddie Academy participants would be first-generation college students, the scholarship provides a truly life-changing opportunity for the young participants.

In 2022, more than 155 young men and women are participating in the Caddie Academy program across the country, with additional chapters in State College, Penn., Minneapolis and Chicago. Since 2012, more than 100 Caddie Academy alumni have gone to earn the Evans Scholarship.

For more information on the WGA Caddie Academy, visit www.wgacaddieacademy.org.