The Elks National Foundation is proud to announce the start of the 2022 Elks Most Valuable Student scholarship contest. The MVS scholarship is available to high school seniors who are United States citizens. Applicants do not need to be related to a member of the Elks. The judging criteria is based on academics, leadership, service, and financial need.
 The application is completed online and must be submitted by the November 15, 2021, deadline. The 500 national winners will be announced in April 2022. The ENF will award 20 top scholarships ranging from $20,000 to $50,000. The top 20 national finalists participate in the Leadership Weekend and interview for the top awards. The remaining 480 runners-up will receive $4,000 scholarships.
 This year, the Elks National Foundation is investing $4.2 million in college scholarships. MVS scholars—all of whom demonstrate outstanding leadership skills and a commitment to service—are graduating from college at a rate of 90 percent, 30 percent higher than the national average.
 Since 1931, the Elks National Foundation has awarded life-changing scholarships to thousands of students like Gellila Asmamaw of Pennsylvania, last year’s top winner. Headed to Harvard to study medicine, Gellila is a certified Ethiopian Sign Language interpreter and volunteers as an instructor in her community.
For Gellila, teaching others the language is about paying it forward and encouraging speakers to serve their communities—something she finds in common with the Elks.
 “To the Elks members who will be supporting me in my education, I would just like to say, thank you, first and foremost for not only supporting me, but believing in me and investing in me,” Gellila said. “I hope to show you all the amazing things I plan to do.”
 Applications for the 2022 contest are available on the Elks National Foundation’s website. For complete Most Valuable Student scholarship contest details including the application, visit enf.elks.org/MVS.