The University of South Carolina celebrates the launch of the Evans Scholars program Friday with a ribbon-cutting at Thornwell Residence Hall. A golf-themed program open to high-achieving caddies with limited financial means, the program covers full tuition and housing costs.
USC’s Evans Scholars will be part of the university's newest living-learning community, the McCausland Scholarship House.
The Evans Scholars program at USC, one of 28 nationwide, is the first of its kind in the Southeast. USC partnered with the Western Golf Association Evans Scholars Foundation to bring the scholarship to Columbia. Peter McCausland, an avid golfer, is a supporter of the Western Golf Association’s Evans Scholars Foundation. McCausland’s relationships with USC and the WGA are enabling the Columbia campus to become home to the first Evans Scholars program in the Southeast.
According to Rex Tolliver, vice president for Student Affairs and Academic Support, this new partnership “allows us to expand the reach of our institutional aid and our public mission of ensuring upward mobility for our graduates.” Between the new opportunities for students and the new LLC, “I couldn’t be more excited about this partnership and what it means for our students,” he says.
I couldn’t be more excited about this partnership and what it means for our students.
Rhonda Laylo, director of student services, shares his enthusiasm.
“This partnership strengthens our commitment to access and student success while enriching the variety of living-learning communities on our campus,” Laylo says. “I’m excited to support these scholars as they grow in leadership, service and academic excellence and as they build a strong community that will leave a lasting impact on USC.”
The Evans Scholar Foundation considers community living a crucial aspect of the program, helping scholars develop strong leadership, collaboration and communication skills. The program also boasts a 95 percent graduation rate, which they credit in part to the LLC approach.
Students must have a strong caddie record, excellent academics, demonstrated financial need and outstanding character to qualify for the scholarships, which are typically awarded to winners before their freshman year, though college freshmen may also apply.
This first batch of scholarship recipients represents a wide cross-section of USC students. The eight freshmen and two sophomores in the inaugural class are from seven states (three are in-state students) and eight different majors. But their love of caddying is a common thread.
For Nicholai Galusha, “Ever since I started caddying in June 2019, the Evans scholarship has been the end goal,” he says. It’s also a bit of a family affair for Galusha as his older brother received the scholarship in 2023 and is current president of the University of Iowa Evans Scholarship chapter.
The Evans scholarship was a key reason Galusha, a pre-business major, McNair Scholar and member of the marching band, chose to come to USC from his hometown of Greendale, Wisconsin. “I love USC so much,” Galusha says, “that I turned down a full-ride scholarship to multiple Ivy League schools, including Harvard, to attend.”
DJ Bookard, a sophomore biological sciences major from North Augusta, South Carolina, attended college in North Carolina his freshman year, but found out he could still apply for an Evans scholarship for his sophomore year and jumped at the chance to transfer to USC and get closer to home. Bookard says that “USC is an amazing school and has exceeded my expectation,” and he is excited by the opportunities a large university provides. Still, he welcomes the close-knit atmosphere created by the Evans Scholars program.
I want to lead the program and create a space within it where all scholars feel that they can grow.
While the ribbon-cutting is this week, the Evans Scholars moved into Thornwell — located just off the Horseshoe next to Maxcy College — during fall break in early October and are quickly adjusting to their new home. “Thornwell has allowed us to have spaces that we can call our own and to truly feel like a community and grow our relationships,” Bookard says.
As one of the only sophomores and the current oldest scholar, “I want to lead the program and create a space within it where all scholars feel that they can grow,” he says.
Bookard is also planning to attend dental school after completing his undergraduate degree, and the Evans scholarship is helping him pursue that dream. “It has allowed me to attend a highly sought-after institution and pursue a degree without financial worry,” he says. “The scholarship will allow me to come out of undergrad debt-free and focus on the cost of dental school.”