SLP Student Earns Full-Tuition Scholarship

senior Cianna Edwards is one of 11 recipients statewide of the Chick Evans Caddie Scholarship, which is a full tuition and housing college scholarship.

Evans Scholars are golf caddies who were selected based on four criteria: a strong caddie record, excellent academics, demonstrated financial need and outstanding character.

The students were awarded the scholarship to the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities, where they will live in the Evans Scholarship House starting this fall. The scholarship is renewable for up to four years and is valued at more than $70,000.

The Western Golf Association, headquartered in Golf, Illinois, has overseen the Chick Evans Scholarship Program through the Evans Scholars Foundation since 1930. It is among the nation’s largest privately funded scholarship programs.

In Minnesota, the Minnesota Golf Association co-sponsors the program with the WGA/ESF. Recipients were chosen after individual candidate interviews.

“These young men and women have been outstanding leaders in the classroom and in both their schools and communities,” said John Kaczkowski, president and CEO of the WGA/ESF. “We welcome them to the Evans Scholars family and know they will continue their success as college students.”

“The Evans Scholarship is truly a life-changing opportunity for the deserving young men and women who will now be able to realize their dream of earning a college education,” said Ede Rice, lead WGA Director in the state of Minnesota.

Currently, 825 caddies are enrolled in colleges across the nation as Evans Scholars, including 60 from the University of Minnesota. More than 9,400 caddies have graduated as Evans Scholars—including 596 from the University of Minnesota—since the program was founded by famed Chicago amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans, Jr.

Scholarship funds come mostly from contributions by 45,000 golfers across the country, who are members of the WGA Evans Scholars Par Club. Evans Scholars Alumni donate more than $4 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 Evans Scholars.

You can see a full list of the scholarship recipients on the Western Golf Association's website.