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News 12 Staff

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A high school student from North Bergen is a New Jersey golf Evans scholar. Pedro Chicas earned a full ride scholarship to Rutgers through his summer job as a golf caddie. He spent his high school summers commuting 80 minutes daily to Crestmont Country Club. Pedro is one of 8 New Jersey students to earn this prestigious Caddy scholarship this year. It's awarded for academic excellence, financial need, character, and a strong caddy record. He talked about his work as a caddie and how he got into it. I was interested because uh I liked golf and I, I wanted to pursue it, and it wasn't just about the money, but it was a great summer job to stay outside and I don't want to really be outside inside this summer. Um, I gave them a call and um they told me when could I come in. And that's how it started. How long have you been caddying? I've been caring for 3 years now. How do you like where you work? You work at the Crestmont Country Club? Tell me about that. Yeah, it's great. um, I remember first coming there and, uh, I, I couldn't really speak to anybody because I was very introverted. It wasn't like there was like many people my age and so it was like very difficult to like talk to people, but. But you came out of that shell and you did. I love that your grandfather who has dementia, you care for him in his own way he must be proud of you too. Tell me about that. He, he had um. He started uh. Yeah, he would talk about it from time to time, but like, um, yeah, recently he had passed away, so it, it hasn't been easy and I've been still going at it and still trying to get as many loops as I can. And honestly, I do it for him. And um, may he rest in peace.

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Pedro Chicas of North Bergen earned a New Jersey Golf Association Evans scholarship. He's one of e8 New Jersey students to earn this prestigious Caddy scholarship this year. It is awarded for academic excellence, financial need, character, and a strong Caddy record. Pedro, congratulations. You were raised by immigrant parents who are just, just over the moon about this. Yeah, they, they work hard every day trying to help me out, you know, pay for my school and everything, and to tell them that they didn't have to pay for my college at all. They were honestly surprised the first time I told them they didn't even believe me. Um, I'd like to give a big thank you to, you know, my parents for, you know, supporting me through all this and I'd also like to give a big thank you to my caddy master and all the people from my school to You know, they gave me this opportunity that keep going and push through. You're getting a full ride to Rutgers. What do you want to major in? Uh, I wanna major in like uh accounting or marketing. Uh, it's always been something that I've wanted to do for a while now and to actually like get a good great education there. Uh, it's honestly, um, an honor and also a dream. You worked really hard to get this scholarship. What do you want to say to other students and young people who were watching this interview and being inspired by you? What would you say to them? I would say to start, like if you're really interested, um, it comes with great opportunity, and doors will open, and it's a great networking and connection uh opportunity, and if not now, when? And it doesn't even have to be caring. It could be anything but to start. Along with caddying, what other interests and hobbies do you have? Uh, other than caddy, um, uh, I work at the Crestmont, um, Country Club as a groundskeeper, so I, I not only do I caddy there, but I also, uh, uh, mow the lawns of the, the teas, the greens, just, um, all around, and I do detailed work around the course. I'm there most of my summer, almost like 8 to 12 hours a day.

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The student joined News 12’s Della Crews to discuss the process of earning the full-ride scholarship.

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