Hines Named Evans Scholar

Senior three-sport athlete Brandon Hines recently learned that he will be awarded the prestigious Chick Evans Golf Caddie Scholarship.  Hines, who will be attending the University of Illinois in the fall, will receive full tuition and housing for four years through the scholarship fund. 

Thousands of high school students across the nation apply for the Evans Scholarship each year and only a select few earn the award.  This year, Hines is one of only three students in the South suburbs to be named an Evans Scholar.  “I was really excited when I found out,” Hines said.  “When I told my parents, my mom started crying, because of the amount of money we will be saving.  Attending University of Illinois would have cost over $150,000 for four years.  Now, I will basically be going for free.”

Earning the Chick Evans Scholarship wasn’t an easy task for Brandon.  Just to be eligible to apply, students must have caddied regularly for at least two years, maintain at least a “B” average in college prep classes, and show outstanding character, integrity, and leadership.  Hines, who has caddied at Beverly Country Club for the past three years, also had to write an essay on why he felt he was deserving of this scholarship.  Finally, this past fall, Brandon, along with over 750 other applicants from Illinois alone, was interviewed by 100 members of the Western Golf Association.  He found out last month in a letter from the WGA that he would be given the scholarship.

Rich Nichols, Brandon’s golf coach, feels the senior is very deserving.  “Evans Scholarship is a huge honor and a huge scholarship.   That fact that Brandon has earned this does not surprise me.  Brandon’s work ethic and attitude will take him along way.”

Hines plans to study math in college and hopes one day to be a high school math teacher and coach.