Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship

Current U.S.-citizen high school seniors planning a four-year undergraduate degree, judged on scholarship, leadership, and financial need (no Elks affiliation required).

• Current high school senior (or equivalent) at the time of application; graduates may not apply
• U.S. citizen at the time of application (permanent residency isn't sufficient)
• Need not be related to an Elks member
• Enroll in a four-year undergraduate program at an accredited U.S. college
• Male and female students compete in separate pools

• 500 four-year scholarships awarded annually
• Awards from $1,000/year to $7,500/year
• Top 20 finalists receive $30,000 over four years; the remaining 480 receive $4,000
• Total program funding of $2,520,000

• Online application via the Elks scholarship system
• Essays, transcripts, test scores, recommendations, and financial information per the guidelines

• Apply early in your senior year — the application opens ~August 1 and closes in late fall.
• Selection weighs scholarship, leadership, and need, so build a well-rounded application.
• Review the official MVS guidelines for the exact required materials before starting.

Administered by the Elks National Foundation. The 2027 application opens August 1, 2026. Contact: scholarship@elks.org or 773-755-4732.