Applications for the Elks National Foundation's 2009 Most Valuable Student contest will be available beginning September 1, 2008, at your local Elks Lodge, online or by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the Foundation. Applications for the 2009 contest have to be submitted to your local Elks Lodge by January 9, 2009.

The Elks National Foundation will award 500 four-year scholarships to the highest-rated applicants in the 2009 competition.

• Any high school senior who is a citizen of the United States is eligible to apply.
• Applicants need not be related to a member of the Elks.
• College students are not eligible to apply.
• Applicants must be citizens of the United States on the date their applications are signed; resident alien status does not qualify.
• Male and female students compete separately.

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

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.

Applications must advance through local, district and state competition to reach the national competition. The Chicago office of the Elks National Foundation will announce the 500 national winners, and notify them in writing, around April 15, 2009. (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.)

To locate an Elks Lodge near you, try your phone book or http://www.elks.org/enf/FindALodge.cfm.

Ranging from $1,000 per year to $15,000 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. American college or university.

Requests for additional information should be addressed to the scholarship chairman of the local Lodge or of the Elks association of the state in which the applicant is a resident.