Two students from the Los Angeles area have been awarded the Evans Scholarship, a prestigious full housing and tuition college grant offered to golf caddies, following a selection interview held Feb. 15.
The caddies have a unique story that reflects the scholarship’s four selection criteria: a strong caddie record, excellent academics, demonstrated financial need and outstanding character. The Evans Scholarship is valued at more than $120,000 over four years.
Roy Luna of Compton will begin college this fall as an Evans Scholar at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he plans to study accounting. He is currently a senior at Centennial High School.
“Caddying provided so much more than what I had imagined; it opened new frontiers, gave me hope, knowledge, guidance and a new family,” Luna said.
Luna was a member of the Caddie Academy in the Chicago area, a special summer program run by the WGA that provides caddie opportunities to under-resourced high school students who ultimately hope to pursue the Evans Scholarship. The program offers students the chance to caddie each day, earn money, meet role models and learn valuable life lessons on the golf course. After completing three summers, participants are eligible to apply for the Evans Scholarship.
“These young caddies are part of an exceptional incoming class of New Scholars from around the nation,” said WGA Chairman Joe Desch. “They represent what the Evans Scholars Program has been about since 1930.”
The Evans Scholars selection interviews are being held with applicants nationwide through the spring. An estimated 315 caddies from across the country are expected to be awarded the Evans Scholarship.
Compton Unified School Board President Micah Ali echoes the sentiment that the program is valuable to students, particularly those in Compton.
“Exceedingly proud of this young scholar and of the fact that for each of the past several years, CUSD has been home to at least one Evans Scholar,” said Ali. “This is a testament to the value of students looking outside the box of the usual opportunities in support of their dreams and aspirations, whether directly into job/career or college, starting off having had unique experiences and without debt is a winning combination. I am honored to serve a school district that gets that, and leaves no stone unturned in presenting such opportunities to our scholars.”
