LOCAL SCHOLARSHIPS For Seniors: March 2024, all scholarships will be sent via Google Classroom.
Most Valuable Student Scholarship
2024
Each year, the Elks National Foundation awards 500 Most Valuable Student Scholarships. This year, over $2.44 million will be awarded. Applications are now available, as of August 1, 2023 at: enf.elks.org/mvs. These four-year scholarships range in value from $1,000 to $7,500 per year. This past year, one MVS Scholarship was awarded to a local student for a total of $4,000. Two local students also won a $2,400 district scholarship. Applicants need not be related to a member of the Elks. College students are not eligible to apply. Judging criteria includes scholarship, leadership, and financial need. Finalists will be announced in March 2024.
To be eligible:
1. Any high school senior who is a U.S. citizen can apply for this scholarship.
2. Male and female students will compete separately. Applicants need not have to be related to an Elk member.
3. Applications and all supporting documents must be in English.
4. The application must be submitted electronically by the November 13, 2023 deadline. The Counselor Report is due November 20, 2023.
5. Students who wish to be considered for the Paul L. Kunz Memorial Scholarship, which is the Belleville Lodge scholarship program, must also submit this application.
6. Applications available online starting August 1, 2023 at enf.elks.org/mvs
Paul L. Kunz Memorial Scholarship
To be eligible:
1. Applicants must be a graduating high school senior from a Belleville area high school. Financial need, good character, and “average” students will be considered.
2. Applicants will be judged based upon the Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student application.
3. Students will be considered after the final judging for the MVS has been completed.
4. Students will not be eligible to receive any other Elks Scholarships (MVS, Legacy, PT/OT).
5. Six $1,000.00 scholarships will be awarded to three girls and three boys.
6. The Paul L. Kunz College Endowment Fund shall be used and administered by the Trustees of Belleville, Illinois Lodge 481 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America.
Scholarships for Elks Families
The Legacy Awards
Legacy Awards are $4,000 scholarships ($1,000 per year for four years). The Elks National Foundation will offer a total of 350 Legacy Awards.
To be eligible:
1. For 2024, any child, grandchild (or stepchild, step-grandchild, or legal ward) of a living Elk. The Elk must also be a paid-up member on or before April 1, 2021. Great-grandchildren are not eligible. Membership must be in place for four years after the award is given.
2. The applicant must be a high school senior.
3. The applicant must apply online only at: enf.elks.org/leg.
4. If the applicant’s parent and grandparent are both Elk members, the applicant must apply through the parent’s Elks Lodge.
5. Students may apply for more than one ENF scholarship; however, they may win only one. In cases where the student qualifies for more than one, the Elks will award the scholarship with the greater value.
6. Legacy Awards may only be applied to accredited US American colleges or universities.
7. If you are selected as a Legacy Awards recipient, you will be required to perform service once a year with an Elks Lodge during the four years you are receiving the scholarship.
8. Applications are evaluated based on their commitment to the core values of the ENF: Knowledge, Charity, Community Service, and Integrity.
Applications available online starting September 1, 2023. The student must complete and submit the ONLINE application by 11:59 a.m. Pacific Time on February 5, 2024. When a student registers to complete the online application, both the applicant and the Lodge Secretary will be notified by email. If you have any questions about the application, visit the elks.org Legacy Awards FAQ page. Winners will be announced in late April 2024. More information can be received by email: scholarship@elks.org or call 773/755-4732.
Emergency Educational Grants
ENF Emergency Educational Grants provide college financial assistance to the children of deceased or totally disabled Elks in the form of renewable, one-year grants of up to $5,000 a year.
To be eligible:
1. Applicants must be attending an accredited US college or university as a full-time undergraduate student (12 semester hours).
2. Must demonstrate a financial need.
3. Be unmarried, and be under the age of 24 during the academic year in which they are applying.
4. Applications are available by request between May 1 and November 1, 2023. To obtain an application, contact the ENF Scholarship office at: scholarship@elks.org or call 733/755-4732. Applications must be received by December 1, 2023.
Additional information regarding the Emergency Educational Grant can be obtained at enf.elks.org/eeg.
Illinois Elks Association CCC Physical and Occupational Therapy Scholarships
The PT/OT Scholarship applications for majors and assistants will be made available December 1, 2023. Watch for news this fall about the application process. These scholarships are not limited to high school seniors, and applications can be made by those already enrolled in a program and are renewable each year up to six years. This year, Speech Therapy and Special Education scholarships have been added. Watch for details to be sent out later this fall.
ACORN Equality Fund: this is a $1,000-$4,000 scholarship. All applications are online.
Illinois Professional Land Surveyors has multiple scholarships.
Heisman High School Scholarship - requirements: a weighted GPA of 3.0 or better, participation in at least one sport, and demonstrated leadership at school and in the community. Deadline is October 17.
Scholarship Websites:
StudentScholarships.org
CollegeBoard BigFuture
Other Information:
Washington University in St. Louis is hosting a Bridge the Gap experience for first and second generation African high school students. Please click for information and registration.
SWIC is hosting "Cool Careers in The Military" at the Belleville Campus. For information please click.
National Portfolio Days - The National Portfolio Day Association has portfolio days established for students in the arts. Click for information.
- ****Juniors will take a State of Illinois provided standardized test. This test is a State issued requirement for graduation from any public high school in Illinois.
- ++++Starting with the Class of 2021, all seniors must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to receive a diploma. Seniors can begin completing their FAFSA December 15 of the current year and will refile each year after while attending post-secondary education. You must have an FSA ID before December 1 of your filing year. Click for the FAFSA/FSA ID sites. Financial Aid Night is November 7 at 6:00PM in the commons.
-
Most Valuable Student Scholarship
2024
Each year, the Elks National Foundation awards 500 Most Valuable Student Scholarships. This year, over $2.44 million will be awarded. Applications are now available, as of August 1, 2023 at: enf.elks.org/mvs. These four-year scholarships range in value from $1,000 to $7,500 per year. This past year, one MVS Scholarship was awarded to a local student for a total of $4,000. Two local students also won a $2,400 district scholarship. Applicants need not be related to a member of the Elks. College students are not eligible to apply. Judging criteria includes scholarship, leadership, and financial need. Finalists will be announced in March 2024.
To be eligible:
1. Any high school senior who is a U.S. citizen can apply for this scholarship.
2. Male and female students will compete separately. Applicants need not have to be related to an Elk member.
3. Applications and all supporting documents must be in English.
4. The application must be submitted electronically by the November 13, 2023 deadline. The Counselor Report is due November 20, 2023.
5. Students who wish to be considered for the Paul L. Kunz Memorial Scholarship, which is the Belleville Lodge scholarship program, must also submit this application.
6. Applications available online starting August 1, 2023 at enf.elks.org/mvs
Paul L. Kunz Memorial Scholarship
To be eligible:
1. Applicants must be a graduating high school senior from a Belleville area high school. Financial need, good character, and “average” students will be considered.
2. Applicants will be judged based upon the Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student application.
3. Students will be considered after the final judging for the MVS has been completed.
4. Students will not be eligible to receive any other Elks Scholarships (MVS, Legacy, PT/OT).
5. Six $1,000.00 scholarships will be awarded to three girls and three boys.
6. The Paul L. Kunz College Endowment Fund shall be used and administered by the Trustees of Belleville, Illinois Lodge 481 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America.
Scholarships for Elks Families
The Legacy Awards
Legacy Awards are $4,000 scholarships ($1,000 per year for four years). The Elks National Foundation will offer a total of 350 Legacy Awards.
To be eligible:
1. For 2024, any child, grandchild (or stepchild, step-grandchild, or legal ward) of a living Elk. The Elk must also be a paid-up member on or before April 1, 2021. Great-grandchildren are not eligible. Membership must be in place for four years after the award is given.
2. The applicant must be a high school senior.
3. The applicant must apply online only at: enf.elks.org/leg.
4. If the applicant’s parent and grandparent are both Elk members, the applicant must apply through the parent’s Elks Lodge.
5. Students may apply for more than one ENF scholarship; however, they may win only one. In cases where the student qualifies for more than one, the Elks will award the scholarship with the greater value.
6. Legacy Awards may only be applied to accredited US American colleges or universities.
7. If you are selected as a Legacy Awards recipient, you will be required to perform service once a year with an Elks Lodge during the four years you are receiving the scholarship.
8. Applications are evaluated based on their commitment to the core values of the ENF: Knowledge, Charity, Community Service, and Integrity.
Applications available online starting September 1, 2023. The student must complete and submit the ONLINE application by 11:59 a.m. Pacific Time on February 5, 2024. When a student registers to complete the online application, both the applicant and the Lodge Secretary will be notified by email. If you have any questions about the application, visit the elks.org Legacy Awards FAQ page. Winners will be announced in late April 2024. More information can be received by email: scholarship@elks.org or call 773/755-4732.
Emergency Educational Grants
ENF Emergency Educational Grants provide college financial assistance to the children of deceased or totally disabled Elks in the form of renewable, one-year grants of up to $5,000 a year.
To be eligible:
1. Applicants must be attending an accredited US college or university as a full-time undergraduate student (12 semester hours).
2. Must demonstrate a financial need.
3. Be unmarried, and be under the age of 24 during the academic year in which they are applying.
4. Applications are available by request between May 1 and November 1, 2023. To obtain an application, contact the ENF Scholarship office at: scholarship@elks.org or call 733/755-4732. Applications must be received by December 1, 2023.
Additional information regarding the Emergency Educational Grant can be obtained at enf.elks.org/eeg.
Illinois Elks Association CCC Physical and Occupational Therapy Scholarships
The PT/OT Scholarship applications for majors and assistants will be made available December 1, 2023. Watch for news this fall about the application process. These scholarships are not limited to high school seniors, and applications can be made by those already enrolled in a program and are renewable each year up to six years. This year, Speech Therapy and Special Education scholarships have been added. Watch for details to be sent out later this fall.
ACORN Equality Fund: this is a $1,000-$4,000 scholarship. All applications are online.
Illinois Professional Land Surveyors has multiple scholarships.
Heisman High School Scholarship - requirements: a weighted GPA of 3.0 or better, participation in at least one sport, and demonstrated leadership at school and in the community. Deadline is October 17.
Scholarship Websites:
StudentScholarships.org
CollegeBoard BigFuture
Other Information:
Washington University in St. Louis is hosting a Bridge the Gap experience for first and second generation African high school students. Please click for information and registration.
SWIC is hosting "Cool Careers in The Military" at the Belleville Campus. For information please click.
National Portfolio Days - The National Portfolio Day Association has portfolio days established for students in the arts. Click for information.
