Jackson Park Golf Course Scholarship Celebration – Monday April 29, 2019
As reported by Teddy Greenstein for the Chicago Tribune, Marc Meltzer for the Hyde Park Herald, and the African American Golfers Digest community members gathered to honor college scholarship recipients Tim Arrington and Abdel Raoul at the Jackson Park Fieldhouse (6401 S Stony Island Ave). Chicago Park District Superintendent and CEO Mike Kelly presented Arrington and Raoul with surprise congratulatory letters signed by Tiger Woods. Chicago’s 5th Ward Alderman Leslie Hairston added personal remarks, followed by comments from the scholars and their families. (Note: Event originally planned at Jackson Park Golf Course move indoors to Jackson Park Fieldhouse due to rain.)
Video Recap of the Celebration Featuring Remarks by Scholars and their Families: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14rq9hAAxjM&feature=youtu.be
Scholarship Info and Biographies
- Timotheus (Tim) Arrington earned an Evans Scholarship as a caddie at the Jackson Park Golf Course. He will graduate from Kenwood Academy in June, and be attending Marquette University. Tim has performed with the Chicago Children’s Choir, and also volunteers as a science tutor for junior high students. The Evans Scholarship is a 4-year full tuition and housing scholarship, awarded by the Western Golf Association based upon criteria of work record as a caddie, financial need, academics and personal character. Since 1930, nearly 10,000 caddies have attended college through this program. Tim is notably the first student to earn an Evans Scholarship working at Jackson Park since 1993.
- Abdel Raoul earned a college scholarship playing golf for Mt. Carmel High School, and will compete collegiately for Prairie View A&M outside Houston, TX. He was an IHSA State Finalist in 2018, 3 x Chicago Park District Boys Junior Golf Champion at Jackson Park, and represented the First Tee of Greater Chicago nationally in a tournament at Pebble Beach in 2017. Additionally, Raoul excels on Mt. Carmel’s Chess Team, as Top 10 Finisher in the 2019 IHSA State Finals. Prairie View A&M also awarded Raoul with their highest academic honor, the Regents’ Student Merit Scholarship.
Contacts:
Brian Hogan, Co-Founder & Director, Chicago Parks Golf Alliance: (312)509-5279; BHogan@ChicagoParksGolfAlliance.org
Cassandra Curry, Communications Chair, Jackson Park Golf Association: (312)914-1068; CRCTeeDiva2@sbcglobal.net
www.ChicagoParksGolfAlliance.org Twitter: @ChiGolfAlliance Facebook: @ChicagoParksGolfAlliance