We all know the path to success looks different for everyone. It is made up of many moments, both small and monumental.
Since the Colorado Golf Association launched the Solich Caddie & Leadership Academy (SCLA) at CommonGround Golf Course in 2012, we have made it our mission to recognize the potential in kids and put them on a path to success.
As part of the inaugural SCLA class of caddies when the SCLA launched in 2012, Henock Solomon epitomizes the power of potential. After four years of caddying at CommonGround Golf Course and Cherry Hills Country Club, Henock earned a full tuition and housing Evans Scholarship to the University of Colorado Boulder.
Henock has since graduated from the University of Colorado and now serves as the Graduate Resident Advisor (GRA) at the Evans Scholarship House at CU while he pursues his law degree. Henock recognizes that the SCLA was a key inflection point in his life.
“During my time in the Academy, I learned not to quit. When you try hard and put in the work, you see results.”
Since its inception in 2012 the SCLA has introduced over four-hundred 8th and 9th graders to the game of golf and the power of connection through caddying. Henock now recognizes how that connection pays off.
“First and foremost, the Solich program taught me how to communicate with adults. That skill has helped me immensely and has separated me from my peers in a fundamental way that continues to open doors.”
For the majority of SCLA caddies, the program is their first job. That core life skill is paired with financial literacy training and a strong foundation in ethical leadership to round out a program that delivers undeniable results. The SCLA now produces roughly one-third of all Evans Scholar finalists, has significantly widened the diversity of the applicant base, and provided a path to college for a substantial number of first-generation college students.
This year for Colorado Gives Day, the CGA asks you to consider supporting the work we are doing to help more kids like Henock pursue their dreams. For some that will be an Evans Scholarship. For others, it may be a vocational school or a community college associate degree. Whatever the case, the work ethic and confidence gained as a caddie and reinforced through the SCLA have created a well-beaten path to success.
Your tax-deductible gift is an investment in those who are willing to work hard to achieve their dreams. Thank you in advance for your support!