2012 MOST VALUABLE STUDENT (MVS) SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST FOR LOCAL STUDENTS
Gateway Lodge will be giving $2,000.00 in scholarships
to local seniors; $1,000.00 to the top female winner and $1,000.00 to
the top male winner. Click here
to download a copy of the application and then click
this link to find
a Lodge nearest to your home (not
school) once you have completed your application and brochure.
The competition is made available to;
- Any high school senior who is a citizen of the United
States is eligible to apply
(College students are not eligible to apply).
- Applicants, even if they are not related to a member
of the Elks.
- Applicants must be citizens of the United States
on the date their applications are signed; resident alien status does
not qualify.
- Male and female students compete separately.
Applicants will be judged on scholarship, leadership, and financial
need. 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.
IMPORTANT DATES!
Please note that to apply for an ENF scholarship, applicants must take
either the
SAT or
ACT and submit their
test scores along with the application. You will need to sit for the
SAT and/or ACT testing before
November 15, 2011 in
order to receive your scores in time for the application process.
2012 Most Valuable Student Scholarship applications must be submitted
to the Lodge nearest the applicant's permanent address by
5:00
PM on December 2, 2011..
LEVELS OF SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
Each 'Place' is Awarded to One Top Female Winner and One Top Male Winner, except as noted below:
Lodge Level
$1,000 - 1st Place Winners
District Level
$1,800 - 1st Place
$1,600 - 2nd Place
$1,400 - 3rd Place
State Level
$2,700 - 1st Place
$2,200 - 2nd Place
$1,800 - 3rd Place
$1,200 - 4th Place (8 winners)
NOTE: The first place winners automatically are entered into the National MVS contest.
The top three second place brochures from all states are sent to the National level competition where they are competing for a
$4,000 ENF scholarship or the grand prize of up to a $60,000 scholarship award.
National Level
500 four-year scholarships, ranging from $4,000 to $60,000 per year
to the
highest-rated applicants in the 2012 competition.
DISTRICT COMPETITION LOCATION, DATE AND TIME
The Metro District Competition will be held at the Hillsboro Elk Lodge on January 14, 2012
10:00am - Scholarship Application Judging
12:00pm - Luncheon for Judges, Students, et al
12:30pm - Award Ceremony
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our Gateway
Lodge Scholarship Committee Chairperson at
for more information.
MVS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Test Scores
Q: The college I plan to attend doesn’t require that
I take the ACT or SAT. Are these scores needed for this application?
A: Yes, ACT and/or SAT scores are required. You need to take
either the ACT or SAT before November 15, 2011, in order to qualify
for the MVS Scholarship.
Q: Can I submit a copy of my test scores printed from the SAT
or ACT website?
A: Yes, you may print your test scores from the SAT or ACT
website.
Essay
Q: Does my essay need to be exactly 500 words?
A: No, but your essay should be no more than 500 words.
Q: Where can I find the essay question?
A: The essay question is on the bottom of page three. Flip
to the page that asks you to list your "Leadership and Extracurricular
Activities," and the essay question is directly below that section.
There is a number '3' on the bottom right corner of the page.
Exhibits
Q: Are exhibits a mandatory part of the application?
A: No, exhibits are optional supplemental material.
Q: What kinds of exhibits should I include with my application?
A: Exhibits should emphasize your achievements in scholarship,
leadership, athletics, dramatics, community service, etc. Examples of
exhibits include, but are not limited to:
- Newspaper Articles in which you are featured.
- Certificates of Achievement in academics, music, drama, sports,
service, etc.
- Copies of Awards
Do not submit original documents, as your application will not be
returned to you.
Q: Do I have to include 10 pages of exhibits?
A: No, you may include up to 10 double-sided pages of exhibits,
but exhibits are not mandatory. The emphasis is on quality over quantity.
Q: Can I include non-paper exhibits, such as CDs or DVDs of
my work?
A: No, do not send CDs, DVDs, or any other similar items. Judges will
not look at or listen to any supplemental materials of this nature
in reviewing your application, and these items will not be returned
to you.
Q: Does my activity sheet or resume count as an exhibit?
A: No. Activity sheets, resumes, honors and award descriptions,
essays, etc., do not count toward your total number of exhibit pages.
Completed Application
Q: Can I put my completed application in protective
sleeves to make sure it is safe?
A: No. Put your completed application directly in the three-hole
clasps of your folder. Do not use any staples or paperclips. Place the
sealed envelopes in the folder pockets.
Q: How should I arrange my application materials?
A: See the application checklist found on the Tips for Completing
Your Application page of your application for the appropriate order.
Lodge
Q: I don’t know where to drop my application off. How
do I find a Lodge?
A: MVS applications must be dropped off at the Elks Lodge
closest to where a student lives. To find the Lodge near you, visit
www.elks.org/lodges. Enter your zip code and click on the Lodge name
to obtain contact information. Immediately contact the Lodge to inquire
about the best times to drop off the application on or before the contest
deadline.
Q: My closest Lodge is in another state. Should I drop off
my application at that Lodge?
A: Yes, drop off your application to the Lodge closest to
your home, regardless of state lines.
Q: I’ve left several messages at my Lodge, but haven’t heard
back from anyone, what do I do?
A: First verify that you have the correct Lodge information,
including the emergency number. If you are having difficulties, contact
your State Scholarship Chair. For a list of State Chairs, go to www.elks.org/enf/scholars/statechairmen.cfm.
Q: Can I mail my application to the Lodge nearest my permanent
residence, or do I need to drop it off in person?
A: You can mail your application to the Lodge closest to your
permanent (not school) residence. If you choose to do this, make sure
you send it in enough time to arrive on or before the contest deadline.
You will not receive confirmation of application receipt from the Lodge,
so if you are concerned, send your application via certified mail. We
encourage you to contact the Lodge, telling them you are mailing them
an application, and again to make sure they have received it.
Q: How will I know if my application has advanced?
A: The Lodge will notify you of your application’s status
via mail at every step of the competition. If you do not hear from the
Lodge, contact the Lodge Scholarship Chairperson for information on
your application.
Financial
Q: I am a national finalist and I haven’t filed my
taxes yet this year. Can I use estimates to complete my FAFSA, in order
to receive my SAR by the National Finalist application deadline?
A: Yes, if you have not filed their tax return, you can still
submit a FAFSA to receive your Student Aid Report to mail to the ENF.
Please note: FAFSA will require you to provide correct income and tax
data once it is filed.
LEGACY AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS
FOR ELK MEMBER'S CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN
Legacy Awards are $4,000 scholarships ($1,000 per year for
four years). The Foundation will offer a total of up to 250 awards.
LEGACY AWARD FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Following are answers to common questions about the Elks National Foundation's
ENF Legacy Awards scholarship contest:
Who is Eligible?
- Any child or grandchild (or step-child, step-grandchild, or legal
ward) of a living Elk who joined the order on or before April 1, 2009,
or a charter member of a Lodge that was instituted on or after April
1, 2009, is eligible to apply. The Elk must also be a paid-up member
through March 31, 2012. Great-grandchildren are not eligible.
- The applicant must be a high school senior.
- The applicant must apply online
only. If the applicant's parent and grandparent are
both Elk members, the applicant must apply through the parent's Elks
Lodge.
- Students may apply for more than one ENF scholarship;
however, they may win only one. In cases where the student qualifies
for more than one, we will award the scholarship with the greater value.
- Legacy Awards may only be applied to accredited US American schools,
colleges or universities. (Note: Applicants from Guam, Panama, Puerto
Rico and the Philippines may apply Legacy Awards toward schools, colleges
or universities in their respective homes.)
- Applicants must take the Scholastic Aptitude Test or the American
College Test by December 31, 2011.
How Do I Apply, and What Are the Deadlines?
Eligible students should apply in the following manner:
- Applications will be available ONLINE ONLY after September 1, 2011.
The student must complete and submit the ONLINE application by 12:00
p.m. (noon) Central Standard Time on the February 1, 2012, deadline.
- The Elk sponsor’s membership will be verified through the BPOE Grand
Lodge headquarters.
- When a student registers to complete the online application, both
the applicant and Lodge Secretary will be notified by email.
- Upon receipt of the application, the applicant will receive a notification
that the application was received. Winners will be announced in April
2012.
Note: Because the contest begins in one Lodge year and the winners are announced
in the next, a Legacy Award could go to the child or grandchild of a lapsed
member. An applicant's Elk parent or grandparent must be a paid-up member
in good standing at the time of application, but if the Elk chooses not
to renew membership, that decision will not affect the outcome of the Legacy
Awards contest.
Who Will I Compete Against and how are the quotas
determined?
Legacy Awards are $4,000 scholarships ($1,000 year for four years). The
Foundation offers a total of up to 250 awards.
Children and grandchildren will compete separately against other children
and grandchildren in their state. Each state is eligible to receive a number
of awards based on its past support of the Elks National Foundation. Each
state’s quota is divided evenly among children and grandchildren. In states
where the quota is an uneven number, the extra award is allocated to children
of Elks, rather than grandchildren. Oregon is eligible for 6 awards and
Washington is eligible for 6 awards.
Who Selects the Legacy Award Winners?
The Selection Committee is appointed by the ENF Board of Trustees, and consists
of professionals who are not connected with either the Elks National Foundation
or the BPO Elks of the USA. The Selection Committee is responsible for the
confidential review of each applicant's file. They determine the Legacy
Award winners. All decisions are final.
How Will Applications Be Judged?
The ENF Legacy Awards contest provides educational assistance to children
and grandchildren of Elk members who are high school seniors, going on to
college, and exhibit the core values of the Elks National Foundation:
- Knowledge
- Charity
- Community
- Integrity
The Selection Committee judges applications based on the above values. There
will be no further investigation of the prospective students or their parents
with respect to financial need or other personal matters.
How Will the Awards Be Administered?
- Award winners will be announced in early April.
- The award becomes final when the student accepts it and actually enrolls
in an accredited U.S. American school, college or university. The award
money will be apportioned equally by period (semester, trimester, quarter,
etc.).
- Legacy Awards are evidenced by a Certificate of Award issued by the Chicago
office of the Elks National Foundation.
- All checks are paid directly to the school; under no circumstance can
we make payment directly to the student.
- The scholarship monies may be used for tuition and fees, books and supplies,
room and board.
- In order to receive payment, a student must have the school send a completed
Verification of Enrollment form to our Chicago office. We will then issue
our check, payable to the school, and mail it directly to the school to
establish a credit in the name of the student. We will notify the student
when we mail the check.
- If a student leaves school for any reason, the undisbursed balance of
the scholarship must be returned directly to the Foundation's Chicago office.
It may not be transferred to another school, and it may not be paid to the
student personally.
- In all of our scholarship programs, it is the responsibility of the student
to follow up on all matters relating to his or her scholarship. In all
correspondence relating to a student who has won or is applying for a
Legacy Award, we must have the full name and ENF ID number of the student.
Back to the top
Where Can I Get More Information about the ENF
Scholarship Awards Programs or the Elks National Foundation?
Email 503.255.6535
for more information.
Gateway Elks Lodge #2411
711 NE 100th Ave.
Portland, OR 97220-4437
503.255.6535
Elks National Foundation
2750 N. Lakeview Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614-2256
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