Platt Evans Scholar will begin college this fall
GLENVIEW, Ill. – A student from the Philadelphia area was recently named a recipient of the Platt Evans Scholarship, a full housing and tuition college grant awarded to golf caddies, following a selection meeting held on Feb. 8.
Robbie Starankovic III of Havertown, Pennsylvania, is a senior at Haverford High School and caddies at Llanerch Country Club. He will begin college this fall as a Platt Evans Scholar at Penn State University in State College, Pennsylvania, where he plans to study engineering.
The result of a partnership between the Western Golf Association’s Evans Scholars Foundation and the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust, Platt Evans Scholars are chosen based on showing a strong caddie record, excellent academics, demonstrated financial need and outstanding character.
This marks the 10th year of the partnership between the ESF and the J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust.
“Robbie has demonstrated excellence in the classroom, on the golf course and in his community,” said WGA Chairman Joe Desch. “We are thrilled for him to join an exceptional class of newly awarded Evans Scholars from across the nation.”
Evans Scholars selection meeting interviews will continue nationwide through the spring. When the 2022-23 selection meeting process is complete, an estimated 325 caddies are expected to be awarded the Evans Scholarship.
“We are incredibly proud of our Platt Evans partnership that serves many hardworking caddies pursue their educational goals,” said Tina Gregor, Chairwoman of J. Wood Platt. “It is inspiring to witness the drive and determination of our Platt Evans Scholars and we are honored to help them reach their dreams.”
The Western Golf Association, headquartered in Glenview, Illinois, has supported the Chick Evans Scholarship Program through the Evans Scholars Foundation since 1930. Known as one of golf’s favorite charities, it is the nation’s largest scholarship program for caddies.
Currently, a record 1,100 caddies are enrolled at 22 universities across the nation as Evans Scholars, and more than 11,800 caddies have graduated as Evans Scholars since the program was founded by famed Chicago amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr.
About the Evans Scholars Foundation
The Western Golf Association, headquartered in Glenview, Illinois, has supported the Evans Scholars Foundation since 1930. One of golf’s favorite charities, the Evans Scholars Program is the nation’s largest scholarship program for caddies. Currently, a record 1,100 caddies are enrolled in 22 universities across the nation as Evans Scholars, and more than 11,815 caddies have graduated as Evans Scholars since the program was founded by famed Chicago amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr.
Scholarship funds come mostly from contributions by more than 36,000 supporters across the country, who are members of the Evans Scholars Par Club program. Evans Scholars Alumni donate more than $15 million annually, and all proceeds from the BMW Championship, the penultimate PGA TOUR Playoff event in the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup competition, are donated to the Evans Scholars Foundation. The BMW Championship will be held at Olympia Fields Country Club in Illinois from Aug. 17-20, 2023. Proceeds from the event will help support the Evans Scholars Program. To learn more about the WGA and ESF, visit wgaesf.org.
J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust
The J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust was created in 1958 and is the charitable arm of GAP (Golf Association of Philadelphia). The J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust’s mission is to financially aid and empower qualified caddies and those working in golf operations in the pursuit of higher education. Along with aiding caddies financially, J. Wood Platt’s EMPOWER program strengthens scholarship investment dollars by providing caddies with exceptional benefits and leadership training through access to the wide network of J. Wood Platt donors and alumni. To date, more than 3,700 young men and women have received $25 million in aid from the Trust.
