Changing the World Profile of Bryce Caswell, the top female recipient for 2003.

2004 MVS Contest Announcement of the 2004 MVS Contest eligibility requirements and guidelines.

Focus On: Most Valuable Student Scholarship College scholarships have always been the most commonly identified aspect of the Elks National Foundation’s philanthropic efforts. While the Foundation was awarding scholarships as early as 1931, the first use of the Most Valuable Student contest name was 1933-34, when a single student received a one-time, $1,000 scholarship. Applicants were considered based on their character, scholarship, citizenship, exceptional courage, patriotism and service, and any notable action or distinguished accomplishment.

By 1940, five prizes were being awarded, ranging from $200 to $600. Each state that had contributed $1,000 to the Foundation was allowed to submit one application, plus an additional application for every 10 Lodges in the state that had also contributed $1,000.

For the 1977 contest, the Trustees increased the number of state finalists to 500, and instituted a quota system to determine how many applicants each state would be able to submit That system is still in place today. Each state is eligible to submit a set number of applications based on a ratio that looks at a state’s total donations since inception compared with the overall total of donations the Foundation has received since inception.