What is the Elks Most Valuable Student Runner Up Scholarship?

I'm curious about the Elks Most Valuable Student Runner Up Scholarship. How much is awarded to runner-ups, and do they have to go through the same application process as the main scholarship? Any specifics would be great!

The Elks Most Valuable Student competition does indeed have a reward system for runners-up. In this scholarship competition, awards vary depending on how far a student progresses. The top award is a $50,000 scholarship ($12,500 per year over four years), but there are also smaller awards given to the runners-up. The next 19 finalists in each division (male and female) win awards that range from $20,000 to $40,000 for the entirety of their undergraduate degree.

Then the remaining 480 runners-up receive a one-time scholarship of $4,000. These scholarships for runners-up are intended to recognize their efforts and encourage their educational pursuits.

As for the application process, it remains the same for all students, including the runners-up. All applicants must complete an online application that requires them to share information about their achievements in areas like leadership, extracurricular activities, academic performance, and community involvement. Applicants must also write an essay and may need to go through an interview process if they advance in the competition.

Keep in mind that you must be a high school senior and a U.S. citizen to be eligible to apply. The deadline for applications is typically in November. The Elks National Foundation then reviews all applications and selects top students from each district (which are grouped by state and number of Elks Lodges), state finalists, and then national finalists.

I hope this gives you a clearer understanding of the Elks Most Valuable Student Runner Up Scholarship. It's an excellent opportunity to secure financial support for your collegiate future, so I encourage you to pursue it. Good luck!