Two local youth caddies earn life-changing $125K scholarships

Submitted

Two local youth caddies have been awarded the Western Golf Association’s (WGA) Chick Evans Scholarship, a full four-year housing and tuition scholarship for golf caddies, and the nation’s largest privately funded scholarship program.

These awardees are Marized Eusebio-Perez of George Washington High School and Ayodeji Fawuyi of Arsenal Technical High School, both of Indianapolis.

Eusebio-Perez and Fawuyi, caddies at Carmel’s Crooked Stick Golf Club, earned the scholarship by meeting its four selection criteria: a strong caddie record, excellent academics, demonstrated financial need, and outstanding character. The full tuition and housing college scholarship is valued at an estimated $125,000 over four years.

“The outstanding achievements of these students, both on and off the course, are only the beginning of the incredible things they will achieve as Evans Scholars,” said Brian Specht, a WGA Director and Indiana State Chair. “We know these young leaders will continue to inspire caddies across Indiana to pursue the life-changing opportunity of the Evans Scholarship.”

The Western Golf Association (WGA), headquartered in Glenview, Ill., oversees the Evans Scholars Program. Recently recognized as the Scholarship Provider of the Year by the National Scholarship Providers Association, the Evans Scholars Foundation (ESF) is one of golf’s favorite charities and the nation’s largest scholarship program for caddies.

Both caddies are part of the 19 students in Indiana to receive the prestigious Evans Scholarship this year. An estimated 360 caddies will be awarded the Evans Scholarship this year. Currently, a record 1,190 caddies are enrolled at 24 universities nationwide as Evans Scholars, and more than 12,285 caddies have graduated as Evans Scholars since the program was founded in 1930.

“Since our founding, our Program has changed the lives of caddies who have proven their dedication in the classroom, on the golf course and in their communities,” WGA Chairman Steve Colnitis said. “We are proud to welcome this exceptional group to the Evans Scholars family.”

Evans Scholars have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.3 and a 98 percent graduation rate. An estimated 40 percent are first-generation college students, and 95 percent are employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduating.

Learn more at wgaesf.org.