McAuley Students Named 2018 Chick Evans Scholars

CHICAGO, IL -- Two Mother McAuley students from Beverly and Oak Lawn have been named 2018 Chick Evans Scholars. The Chick Evans Caddie Scholarship is a full tuition and housing college scholarship for golf caddies that is renewable up to four years. Tara O’Malley, of Beverly, and Hayley Stepek, of Oak Lawn, received the coveted scholarship.

O’Malley is a member of the National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Students Ambassadors and Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD). She also plays basketball and lacrosse, and runs cross country. O’Malley caddies at the Beverly Country Club. She plans to attend the University of Illinois in the fall.

“I am beyond grateful and excited for this amazing opportunity I have been given,” O’Malley said “This scholarship means everything to me. I am so grateful for all of the people who have helped me along the way, I could not have done it without them.”

Stepek is a peer minister and a member of the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society, and plays soccer. She is also involved in the peer ministry group at her parish, Queen of Martyrs. Stepek plans to go to Miami University in Ohio this fall. She caddies at Ridge Country Club.

“I know that this scholarship will not only open doors for my college education, but also my future career,” Stepek said. “My education and my faith are things that I’ve always prided myself on and I cannot wait for this next journey in my life to unfold. I’m incredibly blessed to be surrounded by so many positive and uplifting people who have led me to this point in my life: my mom, grandparents, teachers, friends, and especially my second family at Ridge Country Club.”

Each year, more than 960 deserving caddies across the country attend college on a four-year scholarship from the Evans Scholar Foundation. Only 30 percent of Chick Evans Scholars are girls. Selected applicants must have a strong caddie record, excellent grades, outstanding character and demonstrated financial need. More than 10,600 outstanding young men and women have been awarded Evans Scholarships since the scholarship was established in 1930. A majority of recipients attend one of the 14 universities across the nation where the Evans Scholars Foundation operates a Scholarship House.