The Evans Scholarship
December 2019 : The five Sand Valley Finalists at the Chick Evans Scholarship Final Interview in Madison, WI.
(Along with Michael L. Keiser, Jr., Lori Killian, and Nick Kwaterski.)
Not only can caddying be an exciting summer job - the potential to receive an Evans Scholarship can be a life changing opportunity for qualifying high school students. The opportunity became a reality for some of Sand Valley’s junior caddies this 2019-2020 season.
Five Sand Valley applicants were selected for the final round of the Chick Evans Scholarship process. The hopefuls traveled to Madison, WI, where an interview panel asked questions to the applicants based on the scholarship’s four selection criteria: strong caddie record; excellent academics; demonstrated financial need; and outstanding character.
After a rigorous application process and the final interview, all five of the Sand Valley applicants received letters announcing each were awarded the Chick Evans Scholarship. Five Scholars is a record-setting achievement for the Sand Valley Caddie Program, of which two scholars are the first Sand Valley females to be awarded the full-tuition scholarship. Recipients from Sand Valley for the 2019-2020 season were :
Garrett Dolan, Wisconsin Rapids, attends Assumption High School and plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Lance Erdman, Wild Rose, attends Wild Rose High School and plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Brynna Hawk, Port Edwards, attends John Edwards High School and plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Dennis Matott, Wisconsin Rapids, attends Assumption High School and plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Molly McCarthy, Port Edwards, attends John Edwards High School and plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
“Nick Kwaterski and his outstanding team have built one of the finest junior caddie programs in the country,” shared Michael L. Keiser, Jr. - Managing Partner, Sand Valley. “ I am proud of the team’s outstanding commitment to junior caddie excellence. We are all humbled by the incredible achievement and character of our caddie scholars.”
The Chick Evans Scholarship is a full tuition and housing college scholarship for high-achieving caddies. In 1929, famed amateur golfer and Chicago-native Charles "Chick" Evans Jr. asked the Western Golf Association (WGA) to administer funds he had established to send deserving caddies to college. The WGA awarded its first two scholarships in 1930, beginning a legacy that, over the years, has awarded scholarships to over 11,050 young men and women.
Sand Valley is one of a handful of Wisconsin golf properties that employs caddies. Not only do caddies carry golf clubs -- they enhance the golfer’s experience by sharing knowledge about the game, history of the course, and companionship during the round. Sand Valley employs both junior & professional caddies, ranging in age from 12 to 75.
“I am very proud of this great group of caddies. These scholars are a very deserving bunch that have been part of our Sand Valley team for the past few years. They have set shining examples for our other junior caddies and future applicants,” shared Nick Kwaterski, Sand Valley’s Caddie Services Manager. “This is a great achievement for our Program.”
Prior to this year, three Sand Valley junior caddies had been awarded Chick Evans Scholarships. In 2018, Max Kubisiak became the first Sand Valley recipient to be honored with this award. In 2019, Clay Lancour and Max’s brother, Cale Kubisiak, were the Sand Valley recipients of this Scholarship.
To learn more about the caddie program at Sand Valley, contact Caddie Services at caddieservices@sandvalley.com.