SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: Cats, Cars, and Holy Cross

Evan Czuk may be the youngest in the graduating class of 2025, but he has always had an “old soul.” Whether this means taking care of animals, working towards his Eagle Scout rank, or working on his golf skills, he is always determined to take on a new challenge. 

His determination goes back to the summer of eight grade, when Evan’s family began fostering cats. Due to shelters being short staffed and overwhelmed, Evan’s mom stepped up and the Czuk house quickly became a home for many cats. “We started with three,” Evan says, referring to the cats that now rule the house. Originally Czuk’s main role was to keep the cats entertained and engaged, while his mom handled feeding and cleaning. The Czuk “zoo” has fostered 50 kittens over the past five years, and now includes six cats- Lucky, Penguin, Camo, Spot, Gordon, and Czuk’s favorite Pudge. He has learned that just having them show up consistently, even just to play, has made a real difference in his life. 

The same mindset was carried into golf, which Evan picked up sophomore year, but experienced setbacks which made staying motivated difficult. He explains saying “ I kind of had a setback coming into the sport so late, but this year something shifted. I just focused on performing to the best of my ability and working to improve, regardless of what the kids around me were doing.” He began to ask for help, and observed others closely to help mimic good form. His advice to someone trying to excel in a new activity was “find someone who can perform well, and copy them.”

Outside of school and sporting activities, Evan has been working through the ranks of Boy Scouts. Today, he is just one step short of earning the Eagle Scout title, a title which reflects years of hard work and discipline. His Eagle project is currently being worked on which involves designing and building signs at Woollam Nature Preserve.

Outside of cats and golf, Evan has always dreamed of becoming a car designer and living in Italy. “That’s always been the dream,” Czuk says- a place where beauty and lifestyle can blend perfectly. Next fall he plans to study finance at Holy Cross College in South Bend, IN. While he is not entirely sure where his degree will take him, he wants a future that will balance work with a fulfilling life, “I just want to live somewhere peaceful where I relax- not stuck in an office all day.” He imagines a future filled with living in different states in places that inspire him: maybe California, Hawaii, Tennessee, and even a place to come visit in Michigan. No matter where life takes Evan, he will bring along his past of patience and dedication that he has learned from years of showing up, for his pets, sport, and most importantly, himself.