Page 25 - LVGL Magazine Spring 2021

AROUND TOWN

New Podcasts Highlight Golf, Southern Nevada Youth Earns
Excellence $120,000 Evans Scholarship

here are two new podcasts being hosted by Las onanza High student Alejandro Cabrera Quintana, who
Vegas residents, the Golf Zone and Magnifying was selected to be part of the Evans Caddie program and
Excellence. They are separate projects and offer spent recent summers caddying in Illinois, has earned
unique content and guests and are available on a full-ride college scholarship worth an estimated
T the major podcast networks. B $120,000. To say it is life changing is an understatement.

The Golf Zone is hosted by Reflection Bay Golf Club oper- “Being a part of this amazing program is one of the best things that
ations director and Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame member has happened to me,” Quintana said. “Being able to learn the game of
Eric Dutt and Recruit Look Junior Golf Tour coordinator golf up close, while having the opportunity to meet successful people,
and former radio host Tommy Canale. Guests already have is something I will be thankful for my whole life.”
included Chip “Mr. 59” Beck and U.S. Open Doctor Rees
Jones, among others. The Evans program is the Western Golf Association’s Caddie Academy
program, a unique summer stint that provides caddie opportunities to
“The Golf Zone is everything you can think of pertaining to academically promising young people who come from underprivileged
the world of golf,” says Canale. “We discuss all golf related areas across the nation.
topics; this includes current and past PGA TOUR players,
golf industry professionals, celebrities who love the game, His unique story reflects the scholarship’s four selection criteria: a
junior golfers and junior golf events, golf resorts, golf tips, strong caddie record; excellent academics; demonstrated financial
and more. Our goal is to have fun, bring you great con- need; and outstanding character. He will begin college this fall at one
tent, offer some excellent golf tips/advice, and bring you a of 19 partnering universities.
different perspective on the game of golf.” Info at golfzone- Southern Nevada resident Tom Fitzgerald, the regional president of
podcast.com Las Vegas chapter of Evans Scholar Alums, knows first-hand the pos-
Magnifying Excellence is hosted by golf writer and con- itive, lifelong impact the award will have. And he is thrilled to help
tent creator Brian Hurlburt and honors and spotlights Quintana on his educational journey. Quintana joins Reality Welch as
Excellence via deep-dive conversations with some of the Evans Scholars. Welch earned her award in 2020.
world’s best. Recent guests have including baseball hall of “We have six excellent high schools and organizations that serve up
famer Greg Maddux, basketball hall of famer Bill Walton, the cream of the freshman class for us to present the Evans Scholarship
entertainer and entrepreneur Susan Anton, and in March, to them and their families for consideration,” says Fitzgerald, while not-
PGA TOUR player and philanthropist Charley Hoffman ing that there will four additional Southern Nevada kids interviewed in
was on the show. 2021 and up to eight in 2022. “Those Guidance Counselors (we refer

“Many of us strive for excellence in our lives, but I am not to them very respectfully as Cheerypickers) refer to us high GPA kids
sure most have stopped to think about how they personally with solid work and study habits and proven family financial need.”
define the concept,” Hurlburt said. “Each of the show guests
have been very candid about how they achieved excellence, To learn more about the WGA and ESF or to donate,
but also about overcoming challenges and failures that are visit www.wgaesf.org. For local freshman or parents poten-
always a part of the journey of Excellence. That has been tially interested in the caddie program, Fitzgerald can also
one of the most intriguing parts so far.” Info at xlete.com. be reached via email at tfitz551@aol.com.

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