The Elks National Foundation will award 500 four-year scholarships to the highest-rated applicants in the 2016 competition.

• Any high school senior who is a citizen of the United States is eligible to apply.
• Applicants need not be related to a member of the Elks.
• College students are not eligible to apply.
• Applicants must be citizens of the United States on the date their applications are signed; permanent legal resident status does not qualify.
• Male and female students compete separately.

The Most Valuable Student scholarship contest is open to any high school senior who is a US Citizen. Applicants will be judged on scholarship, leadership, and financial need. Applications for the contest are available after September 1. The application must be submitted to the Elks Lodge nearest to the applicant’s home by December 4.

Applications must be submitted to the Elks Lodge closest to the student’s permanent U.S. address. Applications must advance through local, district and state competitions to reach national judging. At each level of judging, the Elks National Foundation Scholarship Office will send email notifications to applicants informing them if they advanced in the contest or not. The first round of email notifications will be sent in mid-January, after Lodge judging is completed. District judging will be completed in late January, and State judging will be completed in mid-February.

In late April, the 20 top finalists will participate in a Leadership Weekend in Chicago during which they’ll interview with the national judges. These 20 finalists will be vying for two first-place awards of $50,000; two second-place awards of $40,000; and two third-place awards of $30,000. The remaining 14 finalists will receive awards of $20,000. The 480 runners-up will receive fifth-place scholarships of $4,000. Click here to read all about the 2015 MVS Leadership Weekend held in Chicago.

Click here for a list of Most Valuable Student scholarship application frequently asked questions.

The Chicago office of the Elks National Foundation will announce the 500 national winners, and notify them in writing, by late April 2016. (Many local Lodges, districts and state Elks associations award their own scholarships through this program. These scholarships are not to be confused with the 500 Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student Scholarships.)

Ranging from $1,000 per year to $12,500 per year, Most Valuable Student scholarships are for students pursuing a four-year degree, on a full-time basis (minimum of 12 semester hours), in a U.S. college or university. All scholarships are in the form of certificates of award conditional upon the full-time enrollment of the winner in an accredited U.S. college or university.

Contact your local Elks Lodge for more information.