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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 heavily involved in mental health policy and advocacy. I was a member of Student Government all four years, in addition to volunteering at a local nonprofit, completing an internship with the North Carolina Senate, and being a university tour guide. I loved my college experience, and I am grateful to the Elks National Foundation for its financial support. Furthermore, I got my start in educational policy last year as a College Adviser at a high school in Charlotte, North Carolina. I am so glad I get to continue working with students in the Elks Scholar Fellow role.

I am currently living in Raleigh, North Carolina. I would love to eventually go to grad school for a Masters in Public Policy, but I think I will stay in Raleigh until then. It is a wonderful city, and I am really enjoying my time here. I play on a recreational soccer team, take advantage of fun opportunities like restaurant week, and enjoy my complex’s pool with a book when the weather allows. I cannot wait to get to know this organization, my coworkers, and the scholars better over the year! Thank you for this opportunity, and I look forward to connecting with the #ElksFamily community.

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