The History and Evolution of Evans Scholarship Houses

The Evans Scholars Foundation, supported by the Western Golf Association (WGA), stands as the nation's largest scholarship program for golf caddies. Since 1930, it has provided full tuition and housing college scholarships to deserving students based on a strong caddie record, excellent academics, financial need, and outstanding leadership and character. A key element of the Evans Scholars Program is the Scholarship House, a living and learning community that fosters academic success, leadership, and public service among its members.

Origins and Early Development

The genesis of the Evans Scholars Foundation lies in the vision of famed amateur golfer Charles "Chick" Evans Jr. In 1929, Evans approached the WGA with the idea of using funds he had accumulated to send deserving caddies to college. Evans' mother played a crucial role in this decision, suggesting that the money, earned through golf, should be reinvested in the sport by supporting caddies' education. Despite initial hesitation from the WGA, who viewed their purpose as primarily staging golf championships, they eventually embraced Evans' idea due to his persistence and impressive reputation.

In 1930, Chick’s dream became a reality. The WGA awarded its first two scholarships to Harold Fink and Jim McGinnis, enabling them to attend Northwestern University. Until the end of World War II, all Evans Scholars attended Northwestern, where the first Evans Scholars Chapter House was established. Tuition to Northwestern in 1930 was $150 per year. Under the direction of J. Leslie Rollins, the Dean of Men at Northwestern, the WGA board established three basic requirements for selection: scholarship, fellowship, and leadership. They picked a dozen more scholarship winners

Growth and Expansion

Following World War II, the Evans Scholars Program experienced significant growth. In 1949, Roland F. “Mac” McGuigan, Dean of Men at Northwestern and faculty Adviser to the Northwestern Chapter of Evans Scholars, was appointed Educational Director. During his nearly 40-year tenure, thirteen new Chapters were founded, bringing the total to fourteen. The program expanded beyond Northwestern University, establishing chapters at other universities, mainly those in the Midwest. By 1950, the Foundation was supporting 84 caddies in college.

The growth of the Evans Scholars Foundation can be attributed to several factors, including the WGA's unwavering support. The WGA’s caddie program, designed to make golf more enjoyable through better caddies, is used nationwide. In addition to the WGA’s support, 22 state and local Golf Associations (GA) co-sponsor the program: Arizona GA, Buffalo District Association, Chicago District Association, Colorado GA, GA of Michigan, Greater Cincinnati GA, Illinois Women’s GA, Indiana GA, Kansas City GA, Kentucky GA, Northern California GA, Ohio GA, Oregon GA, Pacific Northwest GA, South Dakota GA, St. Louis District GA, Syracuse District GA, Toledo District GA, and Wisconsin State GA.

Scholarship Houses: A Cornerstone of the Program

A key component of the Evans Scholars Program is the Scholarship House. In total, there are 17 Scholarship Houses. These houses provide a supportive living environment where Scholars can live, learn, and grow together. Living and learning communities are a significant factor in the success of college students. They cultivate public service and leadership among their members who share interests, living space and meals.

The Evans Scholars Foundation celebrated the opening of its first Scholarship House at the University of Washington on Sept. 23. This fall, 24 Evans Scholars will be living in community in a Scholarship House at 2104 NE 45th Street, in Seattle. It is the second Evans Scholarship House to be established in the Pacific Northwest, with the first opening at the University of Oregon in Eugene in 2016. Their new home, which previously served as student housing, began as a sorority more than 100 years ago across the street from its current location. Washington Evans Scholars include caddies from the states of Washington, Oregon, Illinois, Montana, California and Utah, as well as British Columbia. The House will be able to hold up to 40 Evans Scholars.

Funding and Support

The Evans Scholars Foundation is funded through various sources, including proceeds from WGA championships, the Par Club, special gifts, and alumni contributions. Since its founding in 1950, the Western Golf Association's Par Club has been one of the most important and substantial revenue streams for the Evans Scholars Foundation. One of the Foundation's most notable fundraising events in recent years has been the Western Golf Association's Green Coat Gala, held annually in Chicago.

Notable Alumni

Many Evans Scholars have gone on to achieve success in various fields. They include CEOs Sam Allen of John Deere, Thomas Falk of Kimberly-Clark, former longtime chief of Nuveen Investments Timothy Schwertfeger, Iridium Communications CEO Matt Desch, and oil and gas magnate George Solich. John Schubeck, who anchored local newscasts in Los Angeles, won a scholarship while at the University of Michigan.

Eligibility and Selection Criteria

To qualify for an Evans Scholarship, a caddie must meet several requirements. Candidates must have at least two years of outstanding caddying service. Candidates must have an excellent high school academic record, including high standardized test scores. Candidates must demonstrate significant financial need. Candidates must also receive letters of recommendation from club and high school officials attesting to the applicant's character.

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The Western Golf Association's Enduring Role

The Western Golf Association (WGA) is the lifeblood of the Evans Scholars program. Without their continued concern and general interest in caddies, the scholarship program would cease to exist. The history and tradition that is the WGA began in 1899 when a group of men got together to form an organization that would represent golfers west of the Alleghenies. This initial purpose of the organization was to stage Open and Amateur Championships for the golfers of the west to showcase their talents. The sport of golf was spreading like a grass fire across the prairies of America, and nowhere was it more popular than the flourishing metropolitan area of Chicago. The home of the WGA is Golf, Illinois, and it was there at the Glen View Club that the first Western Golf Association events were contested in 1899. The Western Open, which is the second oldest championship in the nation, has since evolved into one of the top events on the PGA tour, and the Western Amateur has also taken its place among the great championships. In 1914, a Junior Championship was added to the WGA tournament schedule, the first such competition in the history of American golf.

When Chick first approached the WGA with the idea of using his fund to send caddies to college, he was told to look elsewhere; finding needy caddies was far too removed from WGA’s purposes. Perhaps it was persistence, and certainly WGA considered the impressive reputation of the man behind the effort, but this time WGA embraced the idea and agreed to administer his fund. It was the beginning of the Evans Scholars Foundation.

Leadership and Administration

James E. Moore, appointed Assistant Educational Director in 1967 by Mac McGuigan, became Educational Director in July 1989. Evans Scholars Alumnus Jeffrey C. Harrison was appointed Assistant Educational Director in January 1990. Under their direction, the program continues to prosper.

The opening of the Washington Evans Scholarship House

More than 230 caddies have received Evans Scholarships to the University of Washington, beginning in the 1950s. They have lived in student housing on campus; this is the first time Scholars live together in the same building. John Marks of Bothell, Washington, is the chapter’s first elected president. A senior majoring in business administration who caddied at Inglewood Golf Club, Marks has helped his fellow Scholars clean the House over the past year and has been meeting with Program leaders to plan the transition and create the chapter’s infrastructure. Seeing the growth of the Evans Scholars Program in Washington has been very inspiring.

The opening of the Washington Evans Scholarship House is one part of the Foundation’s larger goal of having 1,000 Scholars in school. In conjunction with this milestone, leaders are working to grow the Program from coast to coast, including opening Scholarship Houses at new universities and expanding caddie and networking programs for students and Alumni.

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