School may have just started, but it is already time for high school seniors to apply for college scholarships. Lake Oconee Elks Lodge No. 2849 has announced that the Elks National Foundation has kicked off the start of its 2025 Most Valuable Student (MVS) scholarship contest. The Most Valuable Student scholarship is available to current high school seniors or the equivalent, who are United States citizens. Applicants do not need to be related to a member of the Elks. The judging criteria is based on academics, leadership, service, and financial need.

The application is completed online and must be submitted by November 12, 2024. The Elks National Foundation awards a total of 500 four-year scholarships to the highest rated applicants. Scholarships range from $1,000 per year, up to $7,500 per year. 

This year, the Elks National Foundation is investing more than $4.0 million in college scholarships for future teachers, lawyers, doctors, nurses, engineers, innovators, and more. They have invested wisely. MVS scholars — all of whom demonstrate scholarship, leadership, financial need and community service — are graduating from college at a rate of 90 percent. That is 30 percent higher than the national average.

In addition, Lake Oconee Elks Lodge No. 2849 awards a total of nine $1,000 MVS scholarships to local high school seniors from the communities that it serves. The winners are based on the Elk MVS scholarship applications that are completed by high school seniors from the following schools:

 • Greene County High School

 • Morgan County High School

 • Nathanael Greene Academy

 • John Hancock Academy

 • Lake Oconee Academy

 • The Gatewood Schools

Frank Rowan, Lake Oconee Elks Scholarship Committee Chair noted, “Now more than ever, high school seniors face many financial challenges, as they prepare to enter college. So, I would encourage all eligible students to apply.”

Applications for the 2025 contest are available on the Elks National Foundation’s website. For complete Most Valuable Student scholarship contest details, including the application, visit enf.elks.org/MVS. You may also contact your high school guidance counselor for further details. The MVS application deadline is Nov. 12, 2024.

Please note that when completing the application, students will need to select from a list of the Elk Lodges closest to their home address zip code. To ensure that they are eligible for the Lake Oconee Elks Lodge MVS Scholarship, they must select Lake Oconee Elks Lodge No. 2849 as their sponsoring Lodge.