ANDY GOTTESMAN/THE LANTERNThe new Evan’s Scholars Building is located on 16th Ave. between Indianola and High St. Construction of the building began in September 2007 and is now open to its residents. The building features a biliards room, work-out area, entertainment room, enough rooms to house 70 fraternity members, and many spacious places to spend free time.“It’s not exactly paradise,” said Evan’s Scholar President Kevin Nicholas, of the organization’s house on 14th Avenue. But the 70 fraternity members have a new place to call home: a state-of-the-art facility on 16th Avenue, only blocks away from their home of many years.
The new building, which is the result of nearly 15 years of planning, features a variety of community rooms equipped with HD TVs, new furniture and wireless printers. Private rooms vary from four-person suites to two-person rooms.
Construction of the building began in September 2007, and the primary designer was Mike Paplow of Feinknopf Macioce Schappa Architects.
Juniors and seniors have already moved into the new house, and freshman and sophomores will move in this weekend. The grand opening will be on May 16.
“Living here is awesome,” said Joe Wade, a senior Evan’s Scholar and member of the Move-in Committee. “It’s like moving from a roach motel to the Taj Mahal.”
Members of the fraternity, who are required to live in the house, will pay a higher rent for the new house.
“Rent is cheaper than a normal apartment, but more expensive than the old house,” Nicholas said.
Evan’s Scholars is the largest privately funded scholarship program in the nation, raising more than $1.5 million each year. The founder of the Evan’s Scholars Program, Charles “Chick” Evans, Jr., was a national amateur golf champion who won several major championships. To keep his amateur status, he donated some of his income from golf to caddies who could not afford to go to college, according to the Evan’s Scholars Web site.
The Western Golf Association, which holds a number of American golf tournaments, sponsors the BMW Championship, which benefits the Evan’s Scholars Foundation, according to the WGA Web site. It is because of this sponsorship that the scholars were able to fund the house, Nicholas said.
As for the old house: “There is a good chance the house on 14th will become a parking lot,” Nicholas said.
Vicki Bouttavong can be reached at [email protected].
