Elks deliver dictionaries

Published 3:19 pm Wednesday, October 3, 2018

The Lake Oconee Elks Lodge began its yearly delivery of dictionaries to third-graders in Greene, Morgan and Hancock counties during August. 

The Elks have donated dictionaries to area third-graders for the past 12 years. 

Dom Serra, a retired pharmacist, chaired the program this year and after handing out dictionaries to all of the children, he had a short discussion with them about the dangers of drugs using super hero’s for illustration. There was a superhero bookmark in each dictionary that says, “I’m too smart to start.”

Lake Oconee Elks Lodge will distribute a little over 500 dictionaries this year.  

Pictured are Dom Serra and Don Hill at Lake Oconee Academy with students Grayson Hooks, Faith Patrick, and Cameron Patrick. The third grade teachers at Lake Oconee Academy are Ms. Griner, Ms. DeSandre, Ms. Strickland and Ms. Raynor. 

Also pictured is Dom talking to the kids at Union Point Elementary about how to use their new dictionary. The teachers at Union Point are Ms. Reyes and Ms. Gibson. 

Lake Oconee Elks Lodge, in accordance with the Elks National Foundation, also has a Scholarship program and applications are now online at:  https://www.elk.org/scholars/scholarships/MVS.cfm.   

Three young men and three young women who are seniors in high school are chosen each year to receive a scholarship award at the Elks local level from Lake Oconee Elks Lodge to use for college. Lake Oconee Elks Lodge will award six $1,000 scholarships this year.  Pictured are the six winning seniors from last year’s contest. This is part of a much larger program from the Elks National Foundation in what is called “The Most Valuable Student Contest”. Students from area high schools are invited to apply each year for one of these scholarships. After winning one of Lake Oconee’s local scholarships, their applications are sent on to the district and state levels where they will compete for additional scholarship awards.  The winners at state then compete at the national level.  The Elks National Foundation awards $3.74 million each year in scholarships to tomorrow’s leaders.

Applicants do not need to be related to an Elk. Applicants have to be current high school seniors or the equivalent, who are citizens of the United States. They must plan to attend a college or university and a written letter of acceptance is required to receive the awards.  Male and Female students compete separately.  Applications opened on August 15, 2018 and will close on November 15, 2018.  All high school seniors planning to attend college are encouraged to apply. Again, go to https://www.elk.org/scholars/scholarships/MVS.cfm to apply no later than November 15, 2018.