Elks Most Valuable Student Competition

Applicants will be judged on scholarship, leadership, and financial need.

Eligibility:

• Current high school seniors, or the equivalent, who are citizens of the United States are eligible to apply.
• Applicants do not need to be related to a member of the Elks.
• High school graduates are not eligible to apply.
• Applicants must be citizens of the United States on the date their applications are submitted; permanent legal resident status does not qualify.
• Scholarships are available only to students who enroll in four-year undergraduate degree programs at accredited U.S. American colleges or universities.

Application:

The 2026 MVS application closes on November 12, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.

Awards:

The Elks National Foundation will award 500 four-year scholarships to the highest-rated applicants in the 2026 competition.

Male and female students compete separately.

Ranging from $1,000 per year to $7,500 per year, Most Valuable Student scholarships are for students pursuing a four-year degree, on a full-time basis (minimum of 12 semester hours), in a U.S. college or university. All scholarships are in the form of certificates of award conditional upon the full-time enrollment of the winner in an accredited U.S. college or university.

NOTE: The Chicago office of the Elks National Foundation will announce the 500 national winners of the 2026 contest in April 2026. (Many local Lodges, districts and state Elks associations award their own scholarships through this program. These scholarships are not to be confused with the 500 Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student Scholarships.)

The 2026 MVS Leadership Weekend will be in Chicago April 30-May 3, 2026. The Top 20 scholars, selected from the 500 national semi-finalists, receive an invitation to the weekend and scholarships of $30,000. The 480 runners-up receive scholarships of $4,000. Attendance at Leadership Weekend is required to be part of the Top 20 cohort and receive $30,000.