Brainerd High School senior Gabriella Haire - who is the first Brainerd student in years to be named in the top 20 for the Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student (MVS) National Finalists - earned a $20,000 Elks Scholarship.
Haire traveled April 24 to the MVS National Finalists in Chicago, home of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks headquarters, for the second annual MVS Leadership Weekend. Each finalist received an Elks National Foundation college scholarship of at least $20,000. Six will leave with scholarships ranging from $30,000 to $50,000.
Getting to the MVS Leadership Weekend in Chicago was no easy feat. A total of 19,257 high school seniors applied for an Elks National Foundation MVS scholarship this year. Of these, 480 runners-up will receive $4,000 scholarships. The top 20 scholars who attend the Leadership Weekend have the chance at a $50,000 scholarship.
