By Sebastian Lopez
Saint Monica Catholic High School students Sarahi Ortiz and Kezia Setiawan are two of only nine female high school seniors to receive the Chick Evans Scholarship from The Western Golf Association’s Caddie Academy.
The Caddie Academy is a program that provides female participants, with an emphasis on minorities and those form economically disadvantaged background, an opportunity to work for seven weeks each summer at various golf or country clubs on Chicago’s North Shore, receive special career speeches from successful women, prep for their ACTs, receive counsel from female Evans Scholars Alumnae and apply for the Evans Scholarship. Both California recipients caddied at Onwentista Club in Illinois.
“Each of these participants reflects the four selection criteria of the Evans Scholarship, including a strong caddie record; excellent academics’ demonstrated financial need; and outstanding character,” WGA Chairman David Robinson said. “We are so honored to provide these hardworking young women with full scholarships to fulfill their dreams.
The recipients will join 248 newly awarded Evans Scholars who will attend college this fall on the full housing and tuition scholarship, valued at an estimated $80,000 over four years.
“The Caddie Academy provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for dedicated young women to be introduced to caddying and the game of golf,” Robinson said.
The Chick Evans Scholarships are administered by the Evans Scholars foundation and supported by the WGA, which joined with amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans to establish the caddie scholarship program in 1930.
Today, the Scholarships are funded by more than 27,600 Evans Scholars Par Club members nationwide, Evans Scholars Alumni and proceeds from WGA conducted tournaments.
“I thought going to college was impossible for me financially,” Setiawan said. “When I got the scholarship I didn’t know how to feel but my family was so overjoyed and seeing their happiness was the best part of it.”
Setiawan will be attending Purdue University in Indiana in the fall and will be studying psychological science.
“I received this scholarship a while ago and I’m still in shock and I don’t think it will really hit me until I get to school,” Ortiz explained. “I never thought that this could happen to me but it did and I’m so thankful and blessed that it did.”
Ortiz will be attending the University of Oregon in the fall and will be studying communication disorders and sciences.
