CC of Scranton's Bennett named 2009 Caddie of the YearIsaac Bennett of the Country Club of Scranton wants to forge a career in medicine. He applied to a litany of medical schools, worked in a microlab and currently spends the majority of his weekends riding in an ambulance as an EMT. Bennettâs career choice comes at a price, however. Tuition, loans and educational expenses pile up and become overwhelming. But for Bennett, the J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust has been an instrumental ally throughout his college education. It gave the University of Delaware senior âa chanceâ and named him the 2009 Francis C. Poore Caddie of the Year.
Bennett, 22, holds a major in economics and a minor in biology. He was slated to be formally recognized as the Caddie of the Year at the Trustâs Annual Brunch Dec. 19, but the event was canceled due to a snowstorm. âI was looking forward to giving a speech and meeting the Platt Committee,â Bennett said. âI wanted to personally say thanks.â Added Jack Pergolin, the J. Wood Plattâs Director of Education and one directly involved with the Caddie of the Year selection, âIsaac was not only an excellent student but one who was very involved in the University community. He wants to become a doctor, and I am certain he will attain that goal. We are pleased to have Isaac as our Academic Caddie of the Year.â Bennett points out that the Trust not only allowed him to attain a college education, but it also helped fund an opportunity to study abroad in Argentina. âThat was an amazing experience,â Bennett said. âItâs a completely different society down there. They donât have all of the luxuries that Americans have.â Since the age of 12, Bennett has worked as a caddie at the Country Club of Scranton. His mother encouraged him to get involved. âI was really excited about it,â Bennett said. âI had a really good experience my first couple of rounds, and it just took off from there. It teaches you to be self-motivated. There were a lot of times when I thought, âDo I really want to get up at 6 a.m. and caddie?â I did because I enjoyed it so much.â Through caddying, Bennett has built strong friendships, one of which led to an internship with the Muscular Skeletal Transplant Foundation in Jessup, Pa. âIt not only gave me a lab experience, but I got to see how a business was run,â he said. In 10 years, Bennett has logged 459 rounds on the bag. Aside from caddying, he works as a personal trainer and assists the University of Delawareâs club wrestling program. A Habitat for Humanity volunteer, Bennett has traveled to communities in North Carolina and West Virginia to build homes for the less fortunate. Graduation may be a month away, but Bennett has laid out his post-college plans. He works for the University of Delawareâs EMS service and will soon begin field training as an EMT for St. Francis Hospital in Wilmington, Del. Bennett hopes to attend medical school in the fall. The Caddie of the Year Awardâs namesake, Francis C. Poore, served on the Platt Board of Trustees from 1969 to 2003. He was a valued advisor and friend to the scholarships management, associates and fellow Trustees. Through his excellent leadership, conscientious service and dedication, he contributed immeasurably to the development and growth of the organization. His commitment to the Scholarship and his mentorship of the caddie recipients were unparalleled. He will forever stand as the model and epitome of the virtue and essence of the Platt Caddie Scholarship. The Education Committee looks at all Platt Caddie-Scholars in their senior year of college and selects the one individual who stands out among his or her peers over the past four academic years.
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