Ryan Martino was diagnosed with stage 2 Hodgkin’s lymphoma as he graduated from the 8th grade
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Published on May 31, 2026 06:00PM EDT
NEED TO KNOW
- Ryan Martino, a New York-area teen, was diagnosed with stage 2 Hodgkin’s lymphoma at the end of 8th grade
- The teen was later forced to frequently miss his high school classes due to a compromised immune system, but he still managed to maintain a 4.0 grade point average
- The now-senior recently received the prestigious Chick Evans Scholarship, a four-year award worth approximately $125,000, which will cover his college expenses
A New York teen, diagnosed with cancerright before he started high school, is set to graduate with a perfect grade-point average and a $125,000 scholarship.
Ryan Martino of Long Island’s Nassau County was diagnosed with stage 2 Hodgkin’s lymphoma — a type of cancer that affects the body’s lymphatic system — at the end of the 8th grade.
He began high school while recovering from chemotherapy, and his compromised immune system frequently forced him to stay home. Still, Martino, now 17, was determined to keep up with his studies, and now, four years later, he is expected to graduate with a 4.0 GPA.
Martino, who has been caddying at the Nassau Country Club for several years, also recently learned that he is one of about 380 students nationwide to receive the Western Golf Association’s Chick Evans Scholarship this year.
It will cover all of his college expenses for the next four years, and it is valued at approximately $125,000.
Scholarship recipients must meet the program’s four selection criteria: a strong caddie record, excellent academics, demonstrated financial need and outstanding character.
“The moment I found out I received the Chick Evans Scholarship is something I will never forget,” Martino tells PEOPLE exclusively.
The teen said he was at school when his mother called to tell him that a “huge envelope” had arrived for him from the Western Golf Association.
“The second she said those words, my heart dropped,” Martino recalls. “I left class and flew home because I had this gut feeling that I got it, but I still couldn’t fully believe it until I opened the envelope myself.”
Explaining that “a huge weight came off my shoulders” when he opened the letter,” Martino adds, “I was just overwhelmed with relief and gratitude in that moment.”
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He continues, “My mom started crying, my dad hugged me, and I honestly just stood there in shock for a few seconds trying to process everything.”
The high school senior says the Evans Scholarship is especially meaningful because of its connection to his passion for golf and caddying.
“Caddying has become such a big part of my life,” Martino tells PEOPLE. “Every day on the course, I feel lucky to be out there walking such beautiful grounds and meeting so many great people. It’s also special knowing that the scholarship connects you to such an amazing group of Evans Scholars and alumni who all support each other long after caddying.”
Martino will begin college this fall at the University of Delaware.
