A pair of Marian Catholic High School students will attend the University of Illinois at Chicago on full scholarships thanks to their time spent caddying at local golf courses. 

Brook Rouse and Dominic Pena, both Spartans seniors, earned the prestigious Chick Evans Memorial Scholarship from the Western Golf Association. The award pays for all tuition and housing. The scholarship is awarded based on caddying experience, grades, extracurricular activities, an essay and interview.  

“My mother and father have always struggled financially so to be able to have this opportunity to have a full ride and go to school is everything I dreamed of and everything my family has dreamed of,” Pena said. 

Pena’s essay was about his family. His mother, Jessica Gonzalez, died in May of last year.

“Being able to caddy, it gave me something to do. It gave me a purpose and was able to distract me,” he said. “It really put me in a good mental state.”

His essay also included lessons he’s learned from running a landscaping business, Joe and Sons, with his dad. 

“I always believe in honoring your mother and father,” Pena said. “I believe that striving for success, getting scholarships and going to school is really something that my mother wanted me to do. I try to have a positive outlook on things and try to succeed for her.” 

Rouse, of Chicago Heights, followed her brother Christopher and caddied at Olympia Fields Country Club, while Pena caddied at Flossmoor Golf Club. Rouse said she was on the course five days a week during the summers, starting after her freshman year. 

“I love (being a caddy). It keeps you busy in the summer. It teaches you a lot and you meet a lot of interesting people,” Rouse said. 

The program was founded by Chicago golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr. and the Western Golf Association in 1930. It’s currently funded by 43,500 members of the Evans Scholars Par Club and the proceeds from the PGA Tour’s BMW Championship.

Scholarship applicants are interviewed in a press conference style by a team of Evans Foundation representatives at the WGA headquarters in Glenview. Potential scholars stand behind a podium and are peppered with queries about their scholarship essay, their time as a caddy and other aspects of their life. 

Rouse was in the last round of interviews in February. 

“I was very, very, very nervous,” she said. “They prep you very well going in but of course you’re going to have nerves since it’s such a big opportunity.” 

The two students applied independently. They were aware of each other but are more acquaintances than friends at school so while Rouse said she asked Pena a few questions about the process, they didn’t talk much about the scholarship.

Scholars, once chosen, submit a list of priority colleges to the WGA. From there, they’re assigned the school they’ll attend based on where a spot is available. 

Evans scholars live together and are given tutoring and other resources. The scholarship places students at 27 schools around the country, usually in an Evan scholar house. At UIC, however, students live together on one floor of a dorm. 

“One of my friends, Delilah (Gonzalez) is also a scholar and I was considering rooming with her,” Rouse said. “That will keep it more how I imagine the college experience to be. They provide you with so much support it’s hard to be too nervous.” 

Rouse will study business administration. She’d like to go into project management. Pena hopes to open his own business some day and hasn’t yet chosen a major. He’s considering accounting and marketing.

Both said they plan on making the most of the opportunity. 

“It definitely means a lot to me and my family that I’ll be able to help them knowing how hard they’ve worked to support me,” Rouse said.