WGA Donors Report, 2018

SHAWNA started caddying in eighth grade after she learned about the Evans Scholarship from her aunt She knew nothing about golf but that didnt deter her I had on my polo shirt and khakis and I was determined to figure it all out she laughs After the first few rounds I knew I was going for the Scholarship Shawna is now studying finance and human resources management at the University of Washington A naturally shy person she is eager to prove the best leaders arent always the loudest in the room She says she learned about her own leadership potential out on the course Golf goes way beyond the green she says Shawna serves as vice president of finance for the University of Washington chapter She is among a growing contingent of Scholars at universities in the Pacific Northwest part of the Programs efforts to grow from coast to coast Shes excited to be part of all the work involved with opening up her chapters first ever Scholarship House this fall Throughout the process Ive gained so much experience that will help me in my career she says Im so grateful that I get to experience Scholarship House living before I graduate Its exactly the type of opportunity Shawnas parents imagined when they immigrated to the United States from China in 1992 They had grown up poor but came here to make a better future for themselves and their children They settled in Seattle where education quickly became a top priority for the Zhou family Education launches futures opens doors and realizes dreams Shawna says 7 Expanding the Evans Scholars Program Coast to Coast G A M E C H A N G E R Living in Connecticut how did you get involved with the Evans Scholars Foundation I heard about the Program as chair of the caddie committee at our club The more I learned about it the more determined I became to open doors for the organization on the East Coast Why do you think its important that the Evans Scholars Foundation expand geographically Because it means that more young people can earn a shot at the Scholarship The time has come for this Program to make its mark on the national level no doubt about it When you send more kids to college you get a bigger market share of the future What are the challenges you see in bringing the Program to the East Coast The Evans Scholars Foundation has a huge following in the Midwest but not here in the East It takes time to build a presence but we are well on the way with a new chapter at Penn State University and several more potential partnerships in the works at other East Coast universities How will this years BMW Championship contribute to awareness building The championship will be held on the East Coast for the first time ever at Aronimink Golf Club just outside of Philadelphia Its going to put the Evans Scholars Program on the map and set the stage for exciting opportunities Pat McCormack is the WGAs northeast regional chair and former chair of the caddie committee at Brooklawn Country Club in Fairfield Connecticut Prior to his retirement he worked as an investment manager Q A Bringing the Evans Scholarship Program to the East Coast with WGA Director Patrick McCormack