ELKS SCHOLARSHIPS & GRANTS

Opportunities in Education

Each year, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks National Scholarship Program grants just over $5 million in college scholarships and grants.

National Elks Most Valuable Student (MVS) Awards

This is a national program that does not require Elks affiliation. Scholarships range from $4,000 to $50,000 and are payable in four equal installments. Eligibility is subject to the following criteria:

  • Applicants must be current high school seniors or equivalent, and a U.S. citizen;
  • MVS 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.

The application window for MVS is August – October each year.You can find further information HERE.

National Elks Legacy Awards

This is a national program that requires Elks affiliation. Scholarships are $4,000, payable in four equal installments. Eligibility is subject to the following criteria:

  • Applicants must be college-bound high school seniors or equivalent, and a U.S. citizen;
  • They must be the children or grandchildren of dues-paying Elks

The application window for Legacy scholarships is September – January.  You can find further information HERE.

Elks Emergency Educational Grants

This program provides college financial assistance to children of deceased or totally disabled Elks, in the form of annual grants up to $5,000. A student may be granted up to four grants total.  You must apply each year for Emergency Education Grants.

  • Applicants attend a four-year college as a full-time student;
  • They must demonstrate financial need, and;
  • They must be unmarried and under the age of 24 for the year they are applying

The application window each year is August – October.  You can find further information HERE.

Alameda Elks Lodge #1015 Scholarship Program

This program is exclusive to children, grandchildren, and legal dependents of Alameda Elks Lodge #1015 members who have been active for two years. It involves a separate application different from the National Elks scholarship programs and provides up to four scholarships of $6,000 in total, paid in four equal annual installments of $1,500.

To be eligible for the Lodge scholarships students must be:

  • Children, grandchildren, or legal dependent of current lodge members who have been members for two or more years
  • Current seniors in high school
  • Pursuing a four-year degree, on a full-time basis (minimum of 12 semester hours), in a U.S. college or university.
  • Submit the application and a copy of their current high school transcript before the application deadline of May 1, 2024.
  • Paper copies may be turned in at the lodge, electronic copies can be submitted to the committee at [email protected]

The application window for the Lodge scholarship is November – May.

CHEA Undergraduate Scholarship Program for Students with Disabilities

This program, sponsored by CHEA, offers scholarship awards of up to $2,000 annually, renewable for up to four years (for total awards of up to $8,000).

Eligible candidates for these awards must:

  • be a U.S. citizen who is a legal resident of California or Hawaii;
  • possess a documented disorder of a physical, neurological, visual, hearing, and/or speech-language nature;
  • be either a high school senior or high school graduate (can be satisfied via a GED or the California High School Proficiency Examination (CHSPE));
  • intend to obtain an undergraduate degree at a community college, four-year college, or vocational school, and;
  • demonstrate financial need.

Local interested qualified students, please click HERE to get more information.

Applications accepted Sept. –  Feb. for the following school year.

DOWNLOAD the application.

CHEA Vocational Grant Application

The program is open to anyone residing in California or Hawaii who is a citizen of the United States of America and planning to pursue an eligible vocational/technical (voc/tech) course resulting in a certificate or two-year degree and leading to employment opportunities.

Vocational Grants are open to all prospective students who require training or retraining to compete in the workplace.

The Vocational Grant is for one academic year, with an option to renew for one additional academic year. This grant may be used only for usual and required costs of a student’s course of study; that is, for tuition and fees, room and board (if living on campus), and books and supplies. Payment will be made to the school. Awards will be between $500 and $2,000 for an academic year depending on length of course.

Eligible programs are two-year or less vocational/technical programs culminating in a terminal Associate degree, diploma or certificate, but less than a baccalaureate program (Bachelor’s degree). Students planning to transfer to a four-year school to pursue a Bachelor’s degree are not eligible to apply.

Examples of courses approved recently are:

  • 6-month Police Academy
  • 13-month Cosmetology
  • 3-month Electrical Lineman
  • 13-month Veterinary Technology
  • 2-year Fire Science

A student must plan to attend school on a full-time basis for a minimum of sixty days. An academic year is determined to be a minimum of nine months (approximately 39 weeks) of continuous full-time study. Payments may not be used to cover retroactive charges and may only be applied to expenses in the academic year.

Applications must be filed with the Scholarship Chairman, Exalted Ruler, or Secretary of the Elks Lodge having jurisdiction in the area of the student’s legal residence.
An application may only be filed with one Lodge.
DOWNLOAD application.

Have a Question?

For any questions on these matters please contact Lise Needham, Alameda Elks Lodge Scholarship Chair, at: [email protected].