In 2003, Melissa Marthol earned an Daniel Murphy Scholar caddie at River Forest Country Club in Elmhurst, Illinois. Her parents had immigrated from Haiti before her birth to seek a more promising future for their two children.
Melissa was the first member of her family to graduate from college. She was invited by the Evans Scholars Alumni Association to speak at the annual Evans Scholars Invitational in August 2006. Following are her comments, which were followed by a standing ovation from more than 200 alumni and guests in attendance.
I feel very privileged to share with you what the Chick Evans Scholarship means to me. Words cannot fully describe the joy I have about being a Scholar.
Since I was a child, my parents stressed the importance and benefits of earning an education. They were the first to set the bar for me to achieve greatness and success.
While growing up, the game of golf was entirely unfamiliar to me. I knew no one who played the game and the only thing I knew was that a club was used to hit a white ball that flew far in the air. I would have never guessed that golf was would have such a significant effect on my life and my family’s.
The game of golf was introduced to me almost a year after I was awarded the Daniel Murphy Scholarship to Maria High School. This honor introduced me to the first organization that set high expectations for me. College was no longer a dream, but a reality, and that became possible once I became part of their caddie program.
The primary reason why I became a caddie was because of the Chick Evans Scholarship. I knew I wanted to go to college but paying for it would be extremely hard for my parents and me. Academically, I could attend college, but my family’s personal finances would not be enough for me to pay for a four-year university.
My summers caddying at River Forest Country Club enabled me to understand, appreciate and love golf. I became very good at caddying and developed relationships with members who were helpful to me. At that point, the Evans Scholarship only had financial value to it. As I became a Scholar, I progressively learned that you cannot put a price tag on the Evans Scholarship.
This scholarship has impact my life in many ways. I will be able to says that I am the first in my family to graduate college.
For the last two summers, I have interned at a leading financial institution, Bank of America, working under an Evans Scholar Almuni from Indiana. More importantly, because for this scholarship with my fellow Scholars at Marquette who are like family.
Because I was awarded this scholarship, dreams of being a successful business of advertising woman are within reach to me.
The Evans Scholarship Foundation expects Scholars to strive for excellence and succeed both in and out of school. I firmly believe that those expectations pushed me to work harder and attain those goals I have always dreamed about.
The individuals at the Western Golf Association and the Evans Scholars Foundation invest so much in us that it is equally important for Scholars to invest in themselves. As a freshman, the president of our house, Bill Moses, sat us down and spoke to us about being a Scholars. He said, “To whom much is given much is expected.” This scholar has given me so much. More than I ever expected.
I continue to work hard and become involved with the scholarship in order to show my appreciation. I thank every individual who works at Golf, Illinois, all the volunteers, and all who donate to the Evans Scholars Foundation. I am grateful for what they do. Thank you to everyone who continues to keep Chicks’s dream alive.
As a soon-to-be alum, it will be my turn to continue in the efforts to maintain Chick’s legacy and to give back to a renowned organization that has touched my heart dearly.
The Chick Evans Caddie Scholarship is a full-tuition scholarship, renewable for up to four years. Most Evans Scholars also live in a campus Scholarship House with other Evans Scholars attending that university. For more information, call 847-724-4600, email evansscholars@wgaesf.com or visit www.evansscholarsfoundation.com.
