Skip to main content

Meet the Class of 2014 Elks Scholars

Kylie Lan Tumiatti
2014 Most Valuable Student Scholar

Seton Hall University — Diplomacy and International Relations

Sponsored by Melbourne, Fla., Lodge No. 1744

Adopted as an infant from a Chinese orphanage, Kylie Lan Tumiatti has overcome many obstacles to become a passionate and driven individual. Though she spent years recovering from her first few months, Kylie never let it hold her back. She became involved in community service early on.

In high school, she combined her love of reading and knowledge of the difficulties of learning English as a second language into a unique community service project. She partnered with a local nonprofit to create a literacy program for the children of migrant workers. Over the past six years, Kylie has raised funds, created activities and plays to help students learn, and recorded stories so students could practice at home with their families. She continues to use technology to aid in English knowledge and plans to expand the program even further. 

“I wanted to teach these children to speak and read English so they could excel,” says Kylie, who was inspired by her younger sister, who also struggled in school after being adopted from China.

Kylie has won numerous prestigious awards which honor her dedication to improving the lives of others. These include ESPN 18 Girls Under 18, the Teen Nick HALO Awards, the Nestle Very Best in Youth Award, and the President’s Volunteer Service Award.

In college, Kylie’s passion for giving back continues to grow. She now works with the university’s Division of Volunteer Efforts, where she coordinates volunteers for service programs and takes weekly groups to visit residents at a center for individuals with developmental disabilities and the local library to read to children.

“My adoptive parents instilled in me the importance of family, faith, education and giving back,” says Kylie. “These goals help me to be a role model and someone the Elks are proud to have sponsored.”

A 501(c)(3) public charity, the Elks National Foundation helps Elks build stronger communities through programs that support youth, serve veterans, and meet needs in areas where Elks live and work. For 2014-15, the Elks National Foundation allocated $2.44 million to fund the Most Valuable Student scholarship program, which includes 500 four-year Most Valuable Student Scholarships. For more information about the Most Valuable Student scholarship program, including eligibility and deadlines, visit www.elks.org/enf/scholars.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Labels

Show more

Popular posts from this blog

Seizing Every Opportunity

Reflections from the SAB President By Kat Nakamura 2019 MVS Scholar Hi, Elks Family! I’m Kat Nakamura, a 2019 MVS Scholar currently serving as the president of the Scholar Advisory Board. My time with the Elks has been a transformative experience, not only providing me with financial support for my education but opening the door to a nurturing community of like-minded individuals and remarkable opportunities. My journey began when I applied for the Elks Most Valuable Student scholarship, and little did I know it was just the beginning of a life-changing adventure. Months later, my mom encouraged me to apply to join the Scholar Advisory Board. Initially hesitant, I thought there was no chance of being accepted. Little did I realize that this decision would lead me to one of my most cherished experiences throughout college. The Scholar Advisory Board are the representatives that advise the ENF on scholar relations. Apart from being on the board, members attend the Elks National Conve...
Post a Comment
Read more

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 w...
3 comments
Read more

Elks Scholar to Scholar Fellow

by Raleigh Cury, Elks Scholar Fellow My first week as the Elks Scholar Fellow has been a whirlwind. Unfortunately, there was a hiccup with my work laptop, as it seems to have been either lost in the mail or stolen from my doorstep. Luckily, the ENF was able to get a second one to me quickly! Besides that, it has been a smooth transition into a new job! Everyone has been warm and welcoming, and I am very excited for what is to come. I have started brainstorming about the Winter Elks Scholar Service Trip. My initial idea is to provide disaster relief in Florida in the wake of Hurricane Ian. We might not do disaster relief, but Florida has become a strong contender for the trip. As a life-long resident of the South, I am especially excited to have a job that will take me all over the country.   In fact, I will be flying to Chicago for the job for the first time in less than a month.   I graduated in 2021 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where I was heavil...
5 comments
Read more