The Scottsbluff Elks Lodge hosted over 180 students, parents, and
teachers on Tuesday night, May 6th, to present this year's scholarships.
The students were from throughout the Panhandle.
Over $46,000.00 was awarded to help these young adults to start
their college careers and receive the degrees to carry them into the
future with good jobs. It was suggested by Dr. Guy Wylie, the
Scholarship Committee Chairman, "When you have your degree and have
worked, and are ready to start a family, come back to Western Nebraska.
There is no place better to raise your children than in a safe and
nurturing environment. Unlike the big cities with all of the crowds,
traffic, and pollution you can feel safe for yourselves and your family
in a community with high values and friendly people."
The guest speaker for this year's banquet was veterinarian Dr. Jerry
J. Upp, a graduate of Gering High School, who in 1983 received a
scholarship from the Elks which provided him with his degree. Dr. Upp's
father, an active Elk and contributor to the Elks National Foundation,
died when Jerry was in the 8th grade. Jerry was contacted during his
senior year by Jim Miller, a friend of his father who was also an Elk.
Jim told him to apply for a scholarship designated for children of Elks
and Elks Foundation contributors. It was this scholarship that saw him
through his undergraduate degree and started him on his path to his
current career and he expressed his gratitude to Jim and for the
Foundation.
In addition to receiving scholarships, which are awarded by the
local Lodge, the highest scoring applications are forwarded for judging
on the State and National levels which can lead to a $50,000.00
scholarship. All current juniors in high school are encouraged to start
considering the application process for the many different scholarship
categories offered by the Elks. Applications and instructions can be
found with your high school advisers or online.
