Elks National Foundation Blog

By 2014 Legacy Awards Recipient and Elks Scholar Advisory Board Member Anji Radakrishnan Anji Radakrishnan, 2014 Legacy scholar and freshmen representative on the Elks Scholar Advisory Board , is giving us a glimpse into life as a college freshmen. Join her each month as she blogs about her exciting new challenges and experiences at Penn State.  Hi everyone! Hope everything is going well for my fellow Elks scholars, and everyone is as happy as I am to finally be going home for Thanksgiving. I’d like to highlight a few important things I’ve learned this month, in the classroom setting, on the extracurricular front, and in an incredible lecture I watched from a guest speaker. In sociology class, we are learning about ethnocentrism—how we tend to see our own culture as the central crux of the world. Our teacher showed us videos of life in other countries, such as a woman eating bugs in China. I saw a video of a Chinese woman eating a live frog. My class was simply stunned, whi

Sarah Morton 2014 Most Valuable Student Scholar University of Wyoming—Biology Major Sponsored by Cheyenne, Wyo., Lodge No. 660 Having started her first job at just 12-years-old, Sarah Morton understands the meaning of hard work. After a busy high school career, Sarah shows no signs of slowing down. She jumped head first into all her university has to offer. Even before classes started Sarah was involved with the university’s Outdoor Program, where she met fellow freshman and enjoyed Wyoming’s natural beauty during a weeklong backpacking trip. She continues to hike and enjoy the outdoors on a regular basis. On campus, Sarah became a freshman senator for the university’s student government, reviewing legislation and planning events and programs for the enjoyment of her fellow students. She also promotes student well-being by participating in Real Women Real Bodies, a university organization that promotes positive body image among students through campus-wide campaigns. She i

Chloe Johnson 2014 Legacy Awards Recipient Middlebury College Sponsored by Burlington, Vt., Lodge No. 916 Through academics, athletics and community service, Elks scholars are inspiring people all over the country. For Chloe Johnson, she inspires young women in her community to lead full and active lives. Involved in dance since childhood, Chloe is now a member of the Northern Vermont Ballet Company, where she’s held lead and supporting roles in the company’s ballet performances. She also inspires a love for ballet in children, working as an instructor for the school’s youth ballet classes. Aside from dance, Chloe inspires young girls to become actively involved in their communities. She founded the Be YourSELF Mentoring Program for elementary and middle school girls to encourage them to lead healthy lives through community service, environmental awareness, leadership and fitness. Though the program began locally, Chloe hopes to expand and involve other high school and c

Casey Boyle 2014 Legacy Awards Recipient   University of Wisconsin-Madison—Engineering Major Sponsored by Clarksburg, W. Va., Lodge No. 482 Casey Boyle enjoys being among others who share his dedication to leadership, community service and giving back. As a member of the Elks family, Casey feels right at home. After years of volunteering to help his community, Casey was selected as a representative for Badger Boys State—a summer leadership program for Wisconsin high school students, focusing on leadership, teamwork and government processes. Besides learning about the workings of government, Casey was inspired by being with peers who shared the same passions, goals and dedication to community. “I became aware of the potential impact that a group of young leaders could have within communities, across our state, and potentially in the country,” explains Casey. As an Elks scholar and member of the Elks family, Casey has again joined a like-minded group of leaders, working to creat