Elks deliver dictionaries, announce scholarship
CONTRIBUTED Students are shown by Lake Oconee Elk member Dom Serra how to use the dictionaries provided. The Elks have donated the dictionaries to the students for the 12 years. Serra is a retired pharmacist.
The Lake Oconee Elks lodge began its yearly delivery of dictionaries to third graders in Greene, Morgan and Hancock counties during August. The Elks have been donating dictionaries to area third graders for the past 12 years. Dom Serra, a retired pharmacist, chaired the program this year and after handing out dictionaries to all of the children, he had a short discussion with them about the dangers of drugs, using super heroes for illustration. There was a super hero bookmark in each dictionary that says, “I’m too smart to start.” Lake Oconee Elks Lodge will distribute a little more than 500 dictionaries this year
Lake Oconee Elks Lodge, in accordance with the Elks National Foundation, also has a scholarship program, and applications are now online at: https://www.elk.org/scholars/scholarships/MVS.cfm/.
Three young men and three young women who are seniors in high school are chosen each year to receive a scholarship award at the Elks local level from Lake Oconee Elks Lodge to use for college. Lake Oconee Elks Lodge will award six $1,000 scholarships this year.
This is part of a much larger program from the Elks National Foundation in what is called “The Most Valuable Student Contest.” Students from area high schools are invited to apply each year for one of these scholarships. After winning one of Lake Oconee’s local scholarships, the applications are sent on to the district and state levels where they will compete for additional scholarship awards. The winners at state then compete at the national level. The Elks National Foundation awards $3.74 million each year in scholarships to tomorrow’s leaders.
Applicants do not need to be related to an Elk. Applicants have to be current high school seniors or the equivalent who are citizens of the United States. They must plan to attend a college or university and a written letter of acceptance is required to receive the awards. Male and female students compete separately. Applications opened on Aug. 15, 2018 and will close on Nov. 15, 2018. All high school seniors planning to attend college are encouraged to apply.