Middlesboro Elks Lodge No. 119 has announced the 2019 Elk’s Most Valuable Student scholarship contest is now open and accepting applications.

This year the Order of Elks will award 500 four-year scholarships to the highest rated applicants totaling $2,440,000. The top 20 finalists will receive two first place awards of $50,000, two second place awards of $40,000, and two third place awards of $30,000. The remaining 14 finalists will receive awards of $20,000 each. The 480 runners-up will receive fifth place scholarships of $4,000 each.

The contest is open to any student in senior class who is a U.S. citizen and plans to continue their education in college after graduation. Applicants will be judged on scholarship, leadership and financial need. Male and female students compete separately. Application deadline is Nov. 15. The 500 national winners will be announced in April.

It is emphasized that, since this an ongoing program available every year, younger students and their parents should keep it in mind. Also students do not have to attend Middlesboro High School to apply. Students from any high school may apply, those from area schools naming Middlesboro as their sponsoring Lodge.

Every year students sponsored by Kentucky Elks Lodges have won scholarships from this program, and at least three past winners have been sponsored by the Middlesboro Elks Lodge.

Last year a student sponsored by Frankfort Lodge No. 530 was awarded one of the two second place scholarships. Another student, sponsored by Newport Lodge No. 273, won a fourth place scholarship and a student sponsored by Florence Lodge No. 314 won a fifth place scholarship.

All applications are now completed online. For complete contest details including the application, visit https://www.elks.org/scholars/ or https://bit.ly/2zpIUS7.