Seniors, Isabella Acevedo & Joel Drees, Named Evans Scholars
Two seniors at Central Catholic High School were recently named Evans Scholars. Isabella Acevedo and Joel Drees, who work as golf caddies at the Inverness Club, will receive this scholarship covering full tuition and housing, valued at $125,000 over four years. Scholarship criteria include demonstrated commitment and skill as a caddie, excellent academics, outstanding leadership and character, and financial need.
Established by famed amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr. and the Western Golf Association, the Evans Scholars Foundation provides full housing and tuition scholarships to high-achieving caddies across the country. The program is funded by contributions from more than 33,000 Evans Scholars Par Club members, including Evans Scholars alumni, as well as proceeds from the BMW Golf Championship.
The Evans Scholars Program provides academic, professional, and social resources that help students maintain a cumulative 3.3 GPA and 98% graduation rate. There are a record 1,260 Evans Scholars enrolled in 27 leading universities for the 2025-26 academic year, and 12,575 young men and women have graduated as Evans Scholars since 1930.
Isabella is secretary for the National Honor Society, and she is a member of Student Senate, Drama Club, Irish Ambassadors, the yearbook staff, W.I.S.E Club, and Spanish Club. She is also a varsity basketball cheerleader. Outside of school, she attends St. Jerome Catholic Church and is involved in the Youth In Philanthropy Encouraging Excellence (YIPEE) Program. She also volunteers at Defying Odds Therapy (DOT) Playspace, an indoor playground designed with inclusion and accessibility in mind. It offers individualized occupational therapy services alongside engaging play opportunities.
Isabella has been a caddie at Inverness for two years. She will be attending The Ohio State University and majoring in health and rehabilitation sciences. She hopes to become an occupational therapist.
“This scholarship helps lift a heavy financial burden that my family has carried for a long time, so that I’ll be able to focus on my studies and the promise of a better future for me and my family,” Isabella said. “All of what I have achieved wouldn't have been possible without my family and friends who have listened to me vent about the hard days and encouraged me with many, many speeches. I would have given up a long time ago if it wasn't for them!”
Joel is a member of the National Honor Society, the Insignis Society, Student Council, Campus Ministry Core Team, Ambassadors for Life Club, Irish Ambassadors, Quiz Bowl, and the Spanish Club, and he is editor of the Centric school newspaper. He has been a member of the varsity cross country and track & field teams for four years, the varsity boys’ basketball manager for four years, the varsity soccer and golf teams for two years, and the varsity swimming team for one year. He has been in the performing arts program for four years, including the Mixed Chorus as a freshman, and the Gospel Choir and Glee Club starting his sophomore year. He is currently the Glee Club president.
Outside of school, Joel is a member of Christ the King Parish and the St. Joseph Maumee Youth Group. He has been an Inverness Club caddie for three years and is an OHSAA and CYO basketball official. He participated in Youth Leadership Toledo, the Youth In Philanthropy Encouraging Excellence (YIPEE) Program, and he completed a Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) Seminar. He is a youth board member for the Avalon Foundation, advocating for rare disease awareness and assisting in fundraising initiatives. Joel was a 2025 co-candidate for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Student Visionaries of the Year. He led a team of over 20 students from seven high schools, raising over $55,000 for blood cancer research and patient support.
Joel is still deciding which college he will attend, but he plans to study business management and finance. He is currently interning at Westgate Insurance Company, and he hopes to someday be an executive for a Catholic company or an entrepreneur.
“This scholarship makes me feel like all the hard work I put in is paying off,” Joel said. Getting up at 5 a.m. on Saturdays to start caddying and staying up late to finish my school work has been worth it. Caddying has taught me discipline and has helped me meet and network with so many influential people, including business people and Central Catholic alumni that I’ve met at the club. I was even named Caddie of the Year. This experience has set me up for life, and I believe the connections I’ve made will play just as big a role in my success as the college education that the scholarship provides.”
