Skip to main content

Meet the ENF Staff

Anne Stretz
Programs Relationship Associate
Scholarships

Anne stays calm and collected even as
the MVS scholarship application deadline nears!
How long have you worked at the ENF?
I’ve worked at the ENF for just over four years.

What projects are you/your department working on right now?

The Most Valuable Student scholarship application deadline is fast approaching on December 6, so Ashley and I are very busy fielding calls and emails from applicants. When the phone stops ringing, we are spending time educating Scholarship Chairs about our new MVS Judging Dashboard. I’ve also been connecting Elks scholars with their local Lodges and communicating with scholars in Bloomington, Indiana, Corvallis, Oregon, and right here in Chicago about volunteer opportunities and meet-ups happening at their local Elks Lodge.

What’s your favorite part of working at the ENF?
Every day I continue to be more and more impressed by Elks scholars. As I read their applications when they are just starting on their college journey, they amaze me! But then, they continue to impress me throughout college with their dedication to academics, service, and making the most of college. They are some of the kindest, nicest people and their dedication to their communities is amazing. I also love the beautiful building we work in!

Describe your average day at the ENF.
Whether I’m hosting a webinar for Scholarship Chairs, sending cards to freshmen Elks scholars, or posting a photo to Instagram, every day is busy! I usually start my day answering emails from scholars and Scholarship Chairs. I’m often emailing with Elks scholars and informing them of opportunities about how to connect with their local Elks Lodges. I’ll usually attend a meeting about something like planning the next issue of Elks Scholar Connect, our monthly e-newsletter, or planning the upcoming MVS Leadership Weekend. And soon we’ll start planning for the Elks Scholar Advisory Board meeting during the Elks National Convention in New Orleans. I love seeing the Scholar Advisory Board and catching up with them!

What are you thankful for this month?
I am thankful for my family! I got married in August (some of you may know me as Anne Shields), so I’m looking forward to celebrating the holidays together with our families. 

What’s one thing about you that might surprise people?
I want to visit all 50 state capitol buildings. I’m not very close to reaching all 50 right now, but hope to someday! I love the buildings and learning a little about each state.

What TV show do you never miss?
I recently watched all of the House of Cards series, and I can’t wait for it to return. I love any political drama!

Comments

Labels

Show more

Popular posts from this blog

Finding a Place in the #ElksFamily

by Aleah Hahn, Most Valuable Student Scholar Aleah Hahn received a second place Most Valuable Student scholarship in 2018. She graduated from Michigan State University in 2021 with degrees in Biosystem Engineering and German. She is pursuing her master’s degree in Marine Resource Management at Oregon State. In her free time, she likes to cycle, forage and hike. Over my spring break I was able to partake in the 2022 Spring Elks Scholar Service Trip in Chicago! In 2018, I attended the 150 for 150 Service Trip in San Antonio, where we celebrated the Elks 150th anniversary through service. Both were amazing experiences to serve in the name of the Elks. They were alike but also different in many ways.  In San Antonio, I connected with Elks state leadership from my home state of Michigan since the trip was at the Elks National Convention!  I served with 149 other scholars and met many of them. It was a great opportunity to connect with other scholars. The majority of our service was at Haven

The Experience Was a Revelation

by Garrett Schumacher 2011 Legacy Scholar, University of Colorado-Boulder   Prior to this trip of service in Chicago, I had always admired the individuals who gave of their time and talents with the purpose of bettering someone else’s life. I wanted to be like them but for the wrong, selfish reasons. After feeling inadequate in this regard for some time, I decided to take the leap and apply for the opportunity that only an incredible organization could provide. My background with the Elks has shown me that they are a communal group that profoundly affects the lives of many people on a national scale every day; being one of those people through scholarships, I felt I owed something to the F oundation and the people they serve. The experience was a revelation for me. I am a proud member of the Elks family and will continue my work and participation in the organization. I did not owe anyone anything other than gratitude, and I could give of myself for the sole purpose of be

A Boatload of Scholars, a Busload of Clothes

By: Aditi V. Patel,  2019 Most Valuable Student scholar Last week, I had the pleasure of serving alongside 20 other amazing Elks scholars as a part of the Tampa Elks Scholar Service Trip. I did my research before the trip and found that Hurricane Ian had displaced more than 40,000 Floridians in September 2022—I wanted to do something to help! After landing in Tampa, we got right to work by sorting a busload (literally) of clothing that Tampa, Fla., Lodge No. 708 collected from the community for Greater Pine Island. We organized each item of clothing by size, made sure each item was in good condition, and placed them into bags. Whenever there weren’t clothes at my table, I would shift to another station to help others, and I saw other scholars doing the same. It was amazing to see everyone laboriously working for hours without any complaints, learning names and fun facts as we went. We had dinner at the Tampa Elks Lodge, which is where I had my first genuine conversations with the s