Chandler Family Attends Annual Breakfast At Echo Lake

Thursday, July 10, 2014--Echo lake Country Club Caddie Scholarship Club Representatives John Rochford and Brian Steller, along with the entire Echo Lake Caddie Scholarship Committee, hosted the Program’s annual Chandler Family Scholarship breakfast.

This year, Beverly Chandler and her daughter Peg, who both live in Ohio, were in attendance.

The Roger Chandler Family Scholarship was created for Echo Lake Country Club caddies in appreciation for the newspaper carrier scholarship he earned as a young man. A successful top executive with Exxon Mobil, Roger originally funded the scholarship in April 2007 with significant shares from his own company stock. After, his passing, his wife, Beverly, continued yearly contributions that actually expanded the number of available scholarships.

For the upcoming 2014-15 academic year, sixteen Echo Lake Caddie Scholars will receive $93,878 in scholarships. In 2013, Echo Lake, an 18-hole golf course and modestly sized country club, was the second highest club contributor in the Program, behind Baltusrol Golf Club at $55,835.

Roger Chandler Memorial Scholarship recipients receive an additional $3,000 on top of the standard NJSGA Caddie Scholarship award of $3,500. Current Chandler scholarship recipients are Brendan Farrell, Virginia Tech Class of 2015; Troy Skibitsky, The College of New Jersey Class of 2016; Andrew Citera, University of Virginia Class of 2017.

Brendan Farrell remarked that “every time you walk the course you learn something else.” He is currently a summer intern at a construction company before his senior year.

Troy Skibitsky added that “it is easier to be motivated when you know people are helping you and out of their own generosity.”

Andrew Citera shared that he is a systems engineering and economic major. “This [scholarship] has greatly impacted my life and I am very grateful.”

Past recipients of the Chandler Scholarship were also in attendance to update the membership and to provide insight about life after graduation into the current scholars.

Andrew McGlynn just completed his master’s degree in business administration from the University of Detroit-Mercy where he was the graduate assistant for the basketball team. His goal is to become a D-1 basketball coach.

Tim Scherer, with some time left at Ramapo College, shared that the scholarship motivates him to preform that much better. And he has. Tim has made the Dean’s List several semesters.

“Golf is a great sport to be around—it teaches you a lot about yourself,” said Jimmy Arbus, a former professional golfer and captain of the Rutgers golf team.

Connor Byrnes said that through caddieing, he learned work ethic and maturity that he has brought with him into his professional life in advertising/marketing at a firm in New York City.

“I look forward to the challenges that I will face after graduation,” said Erich Frederichs.

“Caddieing taught me about life,” admitted Colleen Farrell, sister of Brendan.

A nursing major at the Catholic University of America, JaneClare McCann said, “I expected to learn a lot about golf, but I didn’t expect to learn so much about life.” This will be JaneClare’s second year receiving the Vince Gilligan Memorial Scholarship.

“Show up early,” recommended Chris Lazarotti, the first recipient of the Claude Fusco Memorial Scholarship.

Caddie remarks concluded and Brian Steller introduced the family who has transformed the lives of these Caddie Scholars. Peg, daughter of Beverly and late Roger Chandler, reminisced that when she was growing up at Echo Lake, her father told her that when he retired, he wanted to move his office to Echo Lake.

The apple did not fall far from the tree, as she gave powerful advice to the scholars—everyone—in the room. “Pay it forward is the best advice I can give you,” she said. “Whether it is $100 as a Par Club contributor to the Caddie Scholarship Foundation, or your time, give back to what has gotten you so far and to where you are today.”