New Jersey Evans Scholars Classic Celebrates 20 Years
WASHINGTON, N.J. – Despite a hot and humid day at Hawk Pointe Golf Club, the 2022 New Jersey Evans Scholars Classic was a day of celebration for past, current and future New Jersey caddies.
In the 20th edition of the event, over a dozen current New Jersey Evans Scholars were in attendance as they networked with one another and spent the day caddying for attendees. The day featured lunch, golf, and a reception.
Joseph Desch, WGA ESF Chairman and a former Evans Scholar himself is passionate about moving the organization forward.
“I now see myself in those kids that caddie for me today, that was the age I was when I got the scholarship,” expressed Desch. “I know how influential people were in my life, it just something that brings me great joy.”
In January, the New Jersey State Golf Association’s esteemed Caddie Scholarship Foundation and the Western Golf Association’s (WGA) acclaimed Evans Scholars Foundation have built a partnership that will serve the youth in New Jersey with added opportunities and college scholarships.
"It's great to have an event like this that is really evangelizing youth caddies, it's telling our story and mission about getting youth caddies out there, it's the greatest job ever," explained Desch. "Also, those kids that can qualify for a college scholarship, especially with the expansion out here with places like Rutgers, Maryland and Penn State out here on the East Coast for kids to go to, it's a great program to keep telling more and more people."
Sam Boehmcke, an Evans Scholars alumni out of Spring Lake Golf Club supported the golf outing this year, as now she works for Mondo as a Technical Recruiter after spending her undergraduate career at Ohio State University.
“The Evans has given so much to me," Boehmcke reflected. "As soon as I graduated and got a job, I knew the second I had a pay check come in, I wanted to start giving back. When I knew this event was happening, I marked it on my calendar to play and do everything I can do to give back. It’s a steppingstone and the first thing I could do. Hopefully for the rest of my life I’ll be able to give back because they gave so much to me.”
NJSGA Evans Scholarship recipients are awarded full tuition and housing scholarships, which are co-sponsored by the ESF and the NJSGA CSF. For the 2021-22 academic year, there were 15 NJSGA Evans Scholars enrolled in school.
Tom Paluck, a former NJSGA President and Evans Scholar helped establish this fundraiser over 20 years ago, with the help of former Baltusrol head golf professional Bob Ross and Amy Lillibridge, a former Evans Scholar and current Senior Director of Student Success for the ESF
“There was no way when you start something, you can never really envision where it will go,” said Paluck of the event. “Life just has a way, that if you're on a good course, and you know what you want do, there will be setbacks, but there's no question that somewhere along the line, I had the vision that we’d ultimately with a house at Rutgers.”
Lillibridge helped start this event 20 years ago as a recent graduate of Miami University (Ohio) working at Heron Glen Golf Course in Ringoes.
The CSF and ESF partnership allows the two organizations to lead fundraising efforts to benefit current and future co-sponsored NJSGA Evans Scholars, and eventually, establish a Scholarship House at Rutgers University. The CSF and ESF will continue to exist independently, but will collaborate on several initiatives.
Now in its 75th year, the NJSGA Caddie Scholarship Foundation has provided financial assistance to deserving member club caddies pursuing higher education. Since 1947, it has provided more than $17 million in college scholarship awards to nearly 3,100 caddies. For the 2022-23 academic year, the Foundation will provide 153 caddies with over $667,450 in scholarships. Caddie scholars are selected based on their academic performance, financial need, and length and quality of service as a caddie.
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