Six High School Seniors Outscore, Outdo, Outshine; Elks National Foundation’s Most Valuable Student Scholarship Contest

CHICAGO, May 19 -- Six high school seniors battled the elements of scholarship, leadership and financial need to emerge victorious in the Elks National Foundation’s Most Valuable Student scholarship contest. The top prize -- a $60,000 scholarship and the knowledge that educational dreams are within reach.

Over 11,000 students nationwide began the journey toward educational financial freedom last January. Five hundred survivors earned a spot in the national finals after advancing past other outstanding high school seniors at the Lodge, district and state levels. When all the votes were tallied, Haiwen Chen of Baltimore, MD, and Roy Kimmey of Northumberland, PA, earned first-place finishes.

The Elks National Foundation will award a total of $2.216 million to the 500 finalists. The two first-place recipients each receive $60,000, the two second-place recipients each receive $40,000 and the two third-place winners each receive $20,000, over four years. The 494 fourth-place finishers receive $4,000 scholarships. A complete list of recipients is available online at http://www.elks.org/enf/scholars/mvswinners.cfm.

Student Name: Haiwen Chen High School: Catonsville High School Hometown: Baltimore, MD Scholarship: $60,000

Student Name: Roy A. Kimmey High School: Shikellamy High School Hometown: Northumberland, PA Scholarship: $60,000

Student Name: Jennifer Quach High School: Fairfield Community High School Hometown: Fairfield, IL Scholarship: $40,000

Student Name: Stanford Tran High School: Adrian C. Wilcox High School Hometown: Santa Clara, CA Scholarship: $40,000

Student Name: Naomi Abdebrhan High School: Whitney High School Hometown: Cerritos, CA Scholarship: $20,000

Student Name: Brian Monahan High School: Murphysboro High School Hometown: Murphysboro, IL Scholarship: $20,000

College scholarships, and the pursuit of knowledge, have always been the most commonly identified aspect of the Foundation’s philanthropy. The Elks National Foundation annually awards more than $3 million through its five scholarship programs: the Most Valuable Student contest, emergency educational grants to the children of deceased or totally disabled Elks, scholarships for Eagle Scouts and Girl Scout Gold Award winners, and Legacy Awards for children and grandchildren of Elks. To sign up for the Foundation’s email newsletter, Pulse, visit http://www.elks.org/enf.

The Elks National Foundation also funds other youth programs such as the Elks Drug Awareness Program and the Elks “Hoop Shoot(r)” free throw program. More information about these programs is available online at http://www.elks.org/youthactivities.cfm.

The Elks National Foundation and the BPO Elks of the USA are headquartered at 2750 N. Lakeview Ave., Chicago, IL 60614-1889, 773-755-4728, http://www.elks.org/enf.

Contact Information

Debbie Kahler

Media Contact

Elks National Foundation

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