ENF Increases Most Valuable Student Prizes

CHICAGO, Illinois- Applications are available for students who want to contend for the title of Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student, and for a scholarship of up to $60,000. This year, the ENF added more top awards to the MVS scholarship program. Instead of six top winners, there will be 18. The top awards will range from $8,000 over four years to $60,000 over four years. The remaining 482 runners-up will receive scholarships of $4,000 over four years. The ENF launched the MVS contest in 1993 when a single student received a one-time, $1,000 scholarship. In 2007, the Foundation will award a total of $2.296 million in four-year scholarships to 500 national finalists. Any high school senior who is a citizen of the United States is eligible to apply. Applicants do not need to be related to a member of the Elks. Males and females compete separately, and are judged on scholarship, leadership and financial need. "Thank you for setting the example when it comes to serving others and making a difference," says Cort VanOstran, the 2007 top male from Joplin, MO. "Please understand that this award is making the impossible possible, and is turning my dream of attending Harvard into reality." Making a gift to the Foundation supports students like Cort in communities across the country. The number of applications each state is eligible to submit is based on the state's total donations to the ENF since the Foundation's establishment. Applications are available online at www.elks.org/enf/scholars ; by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the Elks National Foundation; or by visiting a local Elks Lodge. Students must submit applications to their local Elks Lodge by January 11, 2008. The Elks National Foundation will announce the 500 national winners around May 15, 2008. To locate an Elks Lodge near you, visit www.elks.org/LocaILodges.cfm . For more information on ENF scholarship programs, visit www.elks.org/enf/scholars or contact the ENF scholarship department at (773) 755-4732 or scholarship@elks.org.