A student from Victor has been awarded the Evans Scholarship, a prestigious full housing and tuition college grant offered to golf caddies, following a final selection interview held earlier this spring.
Luke Schlimgen, a senior at Corvallis High School, has caddied for five years at The Stock Farm Club in Hamilton, a private golf, shooting and fly-fishing club developed by financial executive and investor Charles Schwab. He will begin college this fall as an Evans Scholar at the University of Washington, where he’ll study Science and Pre-Physical Therapy.
Evans Scholars are chosen based on showing a strong caddie record, excellent academics, financial need and outstanding character. The Evans Scholarship is valued at an estimated $120,000 over four years. The selection meeting was one of more than 20 such meetings the Evans Scholars Foundation held virtually from November through March. Through this process, more than 300 caddies across the country were awarded the Evans Scholarship.
“Luke epitomizes what our Program has been about since its creation in 1930,” said WGA Chairman Kevin Buggy. “His dedication, hard work and sacrifice is humbling, and we are honored to be able to help him pursue his dreams.”
Club founder Charles Schwab created a video message congratulating Luke on his achievement. “We at the Stock Farm really believe in the Evans Scholarship, and Luke is certainly the one who deserves [it],” Schwab said. “This will set you off on your career for many years to come and improve all of the opportunities ahead of you. I’m looking forward to big things in the future.”
The Western Golf Association, headquartered in Glenview, Illinois, has supported the Chick Evans Scholarship Program through the Evans Scholars Foundation since 1930. One of golf’s favorite charities, it is the nation’s largest scholarship program for caddies.
Currently, a record 1,045 caddies are enrolled in 19 universities across the nation as Evans Scholars, and more than 11,320 caddies have graduated as Evans Scholars since the program was founded by famed Chicago amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr. in 1930.
Scholarship funds come mostly from contributions by 32,500 golfers across the country, who are members of the Evans Scholars Par Club program. Evans Scholars Alumni donate more than $15 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 the Evans Scholars Foundation. In 2021, the BMW Championship will be held at Caves Valley Golf Club from Aug. 23-29.
To learn more about the WGA and ESF, visit www.wgaesf.org.