It was the best thing that happened to me coming out of high school, no question, says Chris Cole, a 1995 graduate of the Evans Scholar program at Michigan State University. It was a great feeling coming out of college without all of those student loans. But the scholarship is more than just a free ride. Alumni are part of a respected fraternity who can use the networking contacts they make through the program for the rest of their lives. And the Evans Scholar Foundation, governed by the Western Golf Association, is only continuing to grow.
Applications increase virtually every year making for increased competition among applicants.
In addition Evans Scholars have begun attending such schools as the University of Oregon, Penn State University, and others in the last 10 years. The Western Golf Association funds the program largely through private donations from across the country. Some of the top golfing personalities in the United States, including Tiger Woods, are also contributors. Some of the funds are also raised by profits from the Western Open PGA event, held each year in the Chicago area, and by chapter and alumni fundraisers throughout the year. Applicants generally come from the states where chapter schools are located.