Skip to main content

Elks Scholar Alum of the Year: A Reflection

Kelly Ryan Murphy

Being the Elks Scholar Alum of the Year has been a wonderful experience. I was able to attend the Elks National Convention in New Orleans, meet incredible members of the Elks community, and expand a service project that is near and dear to my heart.

Meeting Mrs. Weigel was my favorite part
of Convention.
Although initially I was hesitant to apply, I am so glad that I ended up doing so. Out of all the many talented Elks scholars, I did not think that I could possibly be considered. But as an Elks scholar and a Gunther & Lee Weigel Medical School Scholarship recipient, my connection to Elks had been reaffirmed over the years and I knew I had made the ideals of the Elks National Foundation a part of my daily life. Once I applied, I was completely shocked that I had received the honor. I was also excited that I would finally get a chance to put a face to the names of the many people working behind the scenes of the Elks National Foundation. Most of all, I knew I would be able to meet Lee Weigel, the wife of Gunther Weigel, who were the benefactors of the medical school scholarship that I had received from Elks. Meeting Mrs. Weigel in New Orleans was my favorite part of the whole weekend, for we had exchanged cards and phone calls several times over the prior two years. She was glowing to meet one of the scholars who benefited from her and her husband’s generosity. She recently passed away so I am thankful this opportunity gave me the chance to meet such a genuinely caring woman. It will go down in history as my favorite memory with Elks.
                        
Members of the Elks Scholar
Advisory Board
exploring Convention.
Other than meeting Mrs. Weigel, I met Elks members in the convention hall and of course learned just what it means to become a pin collector. I went from table to table with some of the other Elks Scholar Advisory Board members to both meet the Elks representing their states and to pick up as many pins as possible! Receiving my home state of Arizona’s pin was especially significant, as was meeting members from Sun City, Ariz., Lodge No. 2559, who sponsored my Elks Most Valuable Student scholarship. They were equally excited to meet someone who had never been to an Elks Convention before because it indicated promise in Elks continuing for years into the future. While nobody in my family had ever been an Elk, I felt at home with the community and was proud to be connected in a unique way to the members.
Couldn't leave New Orleans
without some beignets!

We had lots of fun that weekend, including going on an official New Orleans “ghost tour” and eating as many beignets as one stomach can handle. The Board also worked hard to lay the groundwork for keeping scholars connected and promoting continued community involvement. It was a dynamic process of brainstorming and discussion—and possibly some debating—about ways the Board could reach out to the current and future generations of Elks scholars. I saw first-hand how much the ENF cares about their scholars and learned a lot about the functioning of ENF at a ground level.

Playing dress-up at the WWII Museum.
Being at the ENF event for supporters of the Foundation was incredibly special since it was held at the WWII Museum and many of the Elks members in the audience were veterans themselves. Several people received honors and were acknowledged that night, and I was honored to be among them in receiving my award as Alum of the Year. Having to speak in front of the crowd was intimidating because how was I supposed to thank a room of people who had not only supported me through college but also medical school? It was a humbling experience to say the least, and I was so thankful the Foundation
made the night so unique and entertaining.

The Alum of the Year Award included a donation to the nonprofit of my choice. I decided to donate it to an organization that I was involved with at school called Music and Memory. With this gift, we were able to expand the music therapy program for people with dementia living in assisted living centers around Durham, North Carolina. I appreciated that the award went towards a charity of my choice since it meant I could know exactly who it helps and how it benefits those in need.

The WWII Museum was such an
enjoyable setting!
Overall, I am so glad I applied for the Elks Scholar Alum of the Year. It has been an honor to be more involved with the Elks and I am proud to be connected to such an incredible organization. I have no doubt that the ENF will continue to make a difference in the lives of service-oriented students for many years to come. Thank you, Elks National Foundation. I am looking forward to finding out who will serve as the next Alum of the Year! If you are interested in being the next Elks Scholar Alum of the Year, click here to fill out the online application due March 31.

Kelly Ryan Murphy
2009 Most Valuable Student Scholar, Gunther & Lee Weigel Medical School Scholarship Recipient, and 2014 Elks Scholar Alum of the Year
Sponsored by Sun City, Ariz., Lodge No. 2559

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 2015-16, the Elks National Foundation allocated $2.74 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.

Comments

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

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

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