Sibling rivalry helped high school senior Ava Feuerstein earn the Chick Evans Scholarship for caddies, matching the accomplishments of her brothers. Ava Feuerstein
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Ava Feuerstein, a Grand Rapids high school senior, is the third member of her family to earn a full housing and tuition college scholarship for her work as a golf caddy.
Feuerstein, 17, a student at Forest Hills Eastern High School, said after both her brothers earned the Western Golf Association’s Chick Evans Scholarship, she wanted to prove she could also be a high-achieving caddy.
“We’re very competitive,” she said. “Me being the only sister in the family, I wanted to prove to them that I have everything it takes to be just like them and even better.
“It was nice to prove that I can be just as strong and great as they were,” Feuerstein said.
Her oldest brother, 10 years her senior, received the same full-ride scholarship when Feuerstein was eight. Her middle brother earned it two years ago.
To follow in their footsteps wasn’t always easy, she said.
Feuerstein began caddying in eighth grade, and has been carrying player golf bags, managing clubs and offering strategic guidance on the course at Blythefield Country Club in Belmont for five years.
“It took a lot of work, early mornings,” she said. “I was up at 4:30 a.m. on Saturday mornings, getting out on the course.”
During that time, she also dealt with scoliosis, an abnormal curvature of the spine that she said caused back problems.
“That also pushed me,” she said. “Carrying bags on my back, I just kept going and pushed through pain.”
Now, Feuerstein’s work is paying off with her full-ride to Michigan State University (MSU).
She’s one of 35 Michigan students to be awarded the Evans Scholarship, a four-year housing and tuition scholarship for golf caddies that’s regarded as the nation’s largest privately funded scholarship program.
The scholarship awards are based on four selection criteria – experience as a caddy, academic excellence, financial need and outstanding character.
Two other Grand Rapids area seniors received the scholarship: Devin Fisher, a student at Rockford High School, and Caleb Motaung, of Jenison, who attends the Grand Rapids Christian school, The Potter’s House.
The scholarship program, founded in 1930, is overseen by the Western Golf Association, headquartered in Glenview, Illinois.
Currently, 1,190 caddies called “Evans Scholars” are receiving the scholarship at 24 universities across the country. That includes 87 students at MSU and 58 at the University of Michigan.
Around 360 Evans Scholars are awarded the scholarship nationwide each year. An estimated 40% are first-generation college students.
When she begins classes at MSU this fall, Feuerstein said she’s most excited to build relationships with other Evans Scholars, who traditionally all stay in one large house together. She’s also looking forward to living in the same house as her older brother again, while he also finishes school at MSU.
Feuerstein said she plans to bring her lessons learned as a caddy, especially around perfectionism, to MSU’s interior design program.
“Constructive criticism is truly one of the greatest things ever,” she said, “because my golfers, from the beginning, were so sweet about giving me tips. I just feel like that set me up in life to not be afraid to make mistakes.”
Mark Bond, the WGA director and Michigan State chair, described Feuerstein and other young Evans Scholars as “remarkable students.
“We look forward to watching their success in the classroom and beyond,” he said.
Here is the full list of Michigan scholarship recipients includes:
If you would like more reporting like this delivered free to your inbox, click here and signup for our weekly newsletter: Michigan Schools.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025).
© 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us).
The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local.
Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site.
YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here.
Ad Choices
