This time of year means two things when it comes to local high school seniors. The first is that it is time for their graduation ceremonies and family celebrations. The second is that it is the time of year for Lake Oconee Elks Lodge No. 2849 to formally recognize the winners of their various Elks scholarships and awards.
Each year, Lake Oconee Elks Lodge No. 2849 awards a total of six $1,000 Most Valuable Student (MVS) scholarships to high school seniors from the local communities that they serve. There is a $1,000 scholarship for the Lodge’s High School Student of the Year, the Jerry and June Smith Scholarship for $1,000, and lastly a $1,000 scholarship to the winner of the Chase Montgomery Memorial Scholarship.
Over the past several weeks, members of the Lodge’s Scholarship Committee and the Montgomery family have been attending local high school honors events in order to formally recognize these outstanding students. The winners of these scholarships have demonstrated high academic abilities, as well as significant community involvement. These students were judged not only on their four years of high school academic achievements, things such as leadership qualities, involvement in extracurricular activities, honors, awards, and employment activities.
The winners of the Elks MVS Scholarships include Rhett Smith, Travis Schurling, Hailey Heinen, and Lucy Williams, who each attend Lake Oconee Academy. Additional MVS Scholarship winners are Bryce Coker from Gatewood Schools and Destiny Hunter from Morgan County High School.
The winner of the Lake Oconee Elks Lodge Student of the Year Scholarship is Sarah Proctor from Morgan County High School.
The winner of the Jerry and June Smith Scholarship is Elisa Garcia-Carreras from Lake Oconee Academy.
The winner of the Chase Montgomery Memorial Scholarship is Tifton Willis from Gatewood Schools.
Special congratulations to Hailey Heinen, who was the valedictorian of the Lake Oconee Academy Class of 2023.
Frank Rowan, Lake Oconee Elks Scholarship Committee Chairman noted that “Our Lodge is honored to have the opportunity to recognize a select group of local high school seniors that represent the best of our community.”
The Lodge received a record number of scholarship applications and is already looking ahead to next year when it can continue the tradition of recognizing the best and brightest local high school seniors.