## About the Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship The Elks National Foundation's Most Valuable Student (MVS) Scholarship Contest is one of the largest scholarship programs in the United States, awarding 500 four-year scholarships annually to graduating high school seniors. ### Award Details - **500 scholarships** awarded each year - **Amounts**: $1,000 to $12,500 per year (renewable for 4 years) - **Total investment**: Over $2.2 million annually - **Application Deadline**: November (check elks.org for exact date) ### Eligibility Requirements - U.S. citizen - High school senior in the current academic year - Planning to pursue a four-year degree at a U.S. college or university - Applications must be submitted through local Elks Lodges ### Selection Criteria The competition is scored on three areas: 1. **Leadership** (30%) — Community and school involvement, offices held, honors 2. **Scholarship** (40%) — GPA, class rank, test scores, academic achievements 3. **Financial Need** (30%) — Family income and financial circumstances ### How to Apply Students must apply through their local Elks Lodge. Visit elks.org to find your nearest lodge and get the application. The local, then district, then state competitions lead to the national competition.