Most Valuable Student Scholarship
Elks National Foundation
About
A national four-year scholarship for U.S.-citizen high school seniors, judged on scholarship, leadership and financial need. Applications advance through local Lodge, district and state judging before national selection; the top 20 attend a mandatory Leadership Weekend in Chicago. Also required: must enroll full-time in a four-year degree program at an accredited U.S. college.
Who can apply
Current high school senior (graduates are not eligible)
“Current high school seniors, or the equivalent, who are citizens of the United States are eligible to apply.”
U.S. citizen on the date you apply (permanent residents not eligible)
“Applicants must be citizens of the United States on the date their applications are submitted; permanent legal resident status does not qualify.”
Leadership is a judging criterion · preferred
“Applicants will be judged on scholarship, leadership, and financial need.”
Financial need is scored, but there is no income minimum or maximum · preferred
“There is not a minimum income required in order to apply nor is there a maximum income we would not consider. ... However, financial need is a component and counts towards the total number of points an application can receive.”
Community involvement is a selection criterion · preferred
“An independent selection committee will evaluate the applications and select the recipients considering: Leadership Academic achievements and records Community involvement Financial need”