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JAN/FEB 08
For the past two and a half years, there has been a unique bunch of students living in the University of Wisconsin Evans Scholars house. In the 77-year history of the program, which houses students on 14 college campuses in eight states, there never has been another group like this one. Brothers Bill, Chris and Matt Bantz of Delafield comprise the first set of triplets to be named Evans Scholars. The 21-year-olds are in their junior year at the UW, and after all these years, they still enjoy living together. “When you live (together), attend school and work at the same job – basically do everything together – it seemed odd in my mind that we would just part ways during college,” said Matt, the executive vice president of the Madison Evans Scholars chapter. Evans Scholars make up an elite group of students, so it’s rare that siblings – much less a set of triplets – would be selected. The Chick Evans Caddie Scholarship, named for the man who started the program in the 1920s, gives full tuition scholarships, renewable for up to four years, to selected students who caddie at different clubs around the country. Most Evans Scholars also live in a campus scholarship house – there are 14 across the country – although others are enrolled at an additional five universities that do not maintain scholarship houses. To date, over 8,500 young men and women have graduated from the program. Bill, Chris and Matt, who graduated from Hartford Union High School in 2005, began caddieing at North Hills CC in Menomonee Falls when they were about 13 years old. Once they started, the brothers learned about the Evans Scholars program, but earning a scholarship wasn’t something they really thought about at the time. But they’re sure their parents wanted to keep them around the club because of the opportunity. The first year caddieing was a bit rough, and sometimes the brothers would wait three or four hours for a bag. But after about a year, all three had regular players. In fact, Bill’s full-time caddieing job for seven years was for one man only – “He played a lot,” Bill said. “I enjoy talking to the person I’m caddieing for,” Chris said. “I like to hear the interesting stories that come up when you’re a caddie. I know I’ve heard things I wouldn’t repeat.” Evans Scholars are nominated by their golf clubs, and there is a list of criteria that must be met. A minimum of two years of outstanding service is required, and candidates must have a strong caddie record. They also need to have a strong academic record and ACT or other test scores to determine their academic potential in college. In addition, Evans Scholars must demonstrate financial need and also submit letters of recommendation from club and high school officials. Bill, Chris and Matt agree that being a caddie was a great opportunity for them. It was a great networking strategy, and they met contacts with whom they still keep in touch. They also have met numerous Evans Scholars alumni through various golf outings and banquets. “And then you have the support of all the (former Evans Scholars) members you’ve met,” Bill said. “Your achievements are recognized in an annual report, and you want to do a good job.” In addition to meeting people on the golf course, being an Evans Scholar has opened up the brothers to a new group of students they otherwise wouldn’t have associated with. Bill is an accounting major, Chris is studying clinical lab sciences and Matt is in the school’s pharmacy program.
“The scholarship opens you up to a lot of people you wouldn’t normally hang out with if you weren’t in this house,” Chris said. “You become friends with people that you wouldn’t normally know.” Since most students on the University of Wisconsin campus have no idea what the Evans Scholars house is or that the scholarship even exists, the Bantz brothers and their fellow housemates are making it a goal to raise awareness. Those who have seen the house think it is home to yet another fraternity on Madison’s Langdon Street, but the scholars like to think of themselves as something more like a “dignified” fraternity. They host a few socials throughout the year and sponsor a floating green off the Alumni Pier on Lake Mendota, all with the hope of getting the word out about their program. “We’re trying to change the fact that people don’t know who we are, what we’re about,” Matt said.
— Becky LaPlante
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