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.
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