Five Saint Patrick High School seniors, and a 2017 graduate, have received full tuition and housing college scholarships through the Western Golf Association’s (WGA) Chick Evans Caddie Scholarship.
The scholarships – renewable for up to four years – are awarded to high school seniors who have a strong caddie record, excellent grades, outstanding character and demonstrated financial need.
The five seniors who received Evans Scholarships this year are: Oscar De Leon, Jose Llamas, Anthony Pasquale, Michael Pasquale and Richard Riera. In addition, Alex Occhino ’17, a freshman at Miami University, Ohio has been awarded an Evans Scholarship. Please see below for more information on each student.
With the addition of these six Shamrocks to the Evans family, Saint Patrick has now had 104 students earn the prestigious scholarship. The school leads the nation in Evans Scholars, with 16 graduates currently receiving a tuition-free education.
Saint Patrick President Dr. Joseph G. Schmidt – a WGA board member – is extremely proud of the efforts he’s seen from St. Pat’s students over the years, and strongly believes that caddying can help young men set themselves up for success later in life.
“Caddying is more than a summer job – it’s an investment in the future,” Schmidt said. “It’s on the links where caddies are mentored by successful adults, learn life lessons, hone a strong work ethic and take their own shot at opportunity: Earning an Evans Scholarship.”
Many of the students earning the scholarships now have opportunities they may not otherwise have thought possible and feel as though they are living their dream.
Michael Pasquale said the scholarship is a blessing for his family while twin brother, Anthony, feels all the hard work they put in for the past four years is paying off.
He said, “It’s a huge relief and an opportunity for my brother and I to complete our dreams at U of I.”
For Llamas, the first person in his family to go to college, “It’s an opportunity of a lifetime.”
Riera said, “I am forever grateful to the Evans Scholars Foundation and Dr. Schmidt for the opportunity to attend such a great University.”
Finally, De Leon said receiving the Evans Scholarship means “making my family proud even though we’re spread across thousands of miles.” His father moved to New York in 2015 while he stayed in Chicago with his mother to finish his high school education at Saint Patrick. With the scholarship, De Leon says he gets to “live a dream I’ve had since I was five years old.”
(Pictured left to right)
Richard Riera
College: University of Michigan
Intended Major: Mechanical Engineering
Caddy Location: Ridgemoor Country Club
Elementary School: Marvin Camras
Anthony Pasquale
College: University of Illinois
Intended Major: Journalism
Caddy Location: Ridgemoor Country Club
Elementary School: Immaculate Conception
Jose Llamas
College: Marquette University
Intended Major: Computer Science
Caddy Location: Ridgemoor Country Club
Elementary School: Chicago Academy
Oscar De Leon
College: Northwestern University
Intended Major: Journalism
Caddy Location: Park Ridge Country Club
Elementary School: Beaubien
Michael Pasquale
College: University of Illinois
Major: History
Caddy Location: Ridgemoor Country Club
Elementary School: Immaculate Conception
Not Pictured:
Alex Occhino ‘17
College: Miami University, Ohio
Intended Major: Finance
Caddy Location: Oak Park Country Club
Elementary School: Elm Middle School
