Elks Most Valuable Student Competition
Scholarship Sponsored by Elks National Foundation
Assessment of candidates will be based on their academic achievements, leadership qualities, and financial necessity.
Qualification Criteria:
- Only current high school seniors or equivalent, who hold U.S. citizenship, are eligible to apply.
- There is no requirement for applicants to be related to an Elks member.
- Those who have already graduated from high school are not eligible to apply.
- Applicants must hold U.S. citizenship at the time of application submission; being a permanent legal resident does not suffice.
- The scholarships are exclusively for students who plan to enroll in four-year undergraduate programs at accredited American colleges or universities.
Submission of Application:
The deadline for the 2026 MVS application is 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on November 12, 2025.
Scholarship Awards:
The Elks National Foundation will grant 500 four-year scholarships to the top applicants in the 2026 competition.
Both male and female students will be evaluated separately.
The Most Valuable Student scholarships, which range from $1,000 to $7,500 per year, are designed for students pursuing a full-time four-year degree (minimum of 12 semester hours) at a U.S. college or university. All scholarships are awarded as certificates, contingent upon the winner's full-time enrollment at an accredited U.S. college or university.
NOTE: The Elks National Foundation's Chicago office will announce the 500 national winners of the 2026 competition in April 2026. (Numerous local Lodges, districts, and state Elks associations also offer their own scholarships through this program. These should not be confused with the 500 Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student Scholarships.)
The 2026 MVS Leadership Weekend will take place in Chicago from April 30 to May 3, 2026. The top 20 scholars, chosen from the 500 national semi-finalists, will be invited to the weekend and will receive scholarships of $30,000. The remaining 480 semi-finalists will receive scholarships of $4,000. To be part of the top 20 cohort and receive the $30,000 scholarship, attendance at the Leadership Weekend is mandatory.
Go to Scholarship Application