Most Valuable Student Scholarship Information
The 2020 MVS application opens on August 5, 2019.
The 2020 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.
Eligibility:
- Current high school seniors, or the equivalent, who are citizens of the United States are eligible to apply.
- Applicants need not be related to a member of the Elks.
- High school graduates 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.
Application:
The 2020 MVS application will open on August 5, 2019.
The application deadline is November 5, 2019 at 11:59 PM.
Awards:
- The Elks National Foundation will award 500 four-year scholarships to the highest-rated applicants in the 2020 competition.
- Male and female students compete separately.
- 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.
- The Chicago office of the Elks National Foundation will announce the 2020 500 national winners in late April 2020. (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.)
The 20 top finalists will participate in an all expenses paid 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.
The Elks National Foundation is proud to present its 2019 class of Most Valuable Student Scholarship Recipients. Click here to see the full list of winners.
| 2020 Most Valuable Student Award Offers 500 Four-Year Awards for the 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-2023, 2023-24 Academic Years | |||
| Four-Year Total Award | No. of Awards | Total | |
| First Place | $50,000 | 2 | $100,000 |
| Second Place | $40,000 | 2 | $80,000 |
| Third Place | $30,000 | 2 | $60,000 |
| Fourth Place | $20,000 | 14 | $280,000 |
| Runners Up | $4,000 | 480 | $1,920,000 |
| Total: | $2,440,000 |
Looking for other Elks scholarship options? Learn about Legacy Awards and Emergency Educational Grants.
Questions? Email Scholarship@elks.org or call 773/755-4732.