California-Hawaii Elks Undergraduate Scholarship Program for Students with Disabilities Opening Soon
Offered by California-Hawaii Elks Major Project, Inc.
About This Scholarship
Since 1981, the California-Hawaii Elks Major Project, Inc. — the charitable arm of the California-Hawaii Elks Association best known for its in-home therapy services for children — has funded undergraduate scholarships specifically for students with disabilities. What began as five $1,000 awards has grown into 20 to 30 scholarships per year, normally $3,000 for students at four-year colleges and $1,000 for community college or vocational school students, with over $60,000 offered in the current cycle.
Eligibility centers on documented disability: applicants must have a physical, neurological, visual, or hearing impairment, or a speech-language disorder, verified through two specialist reports included in the application packet. Beyond that, applicants must be U.S. citizens residing in California or Hawaii, be a high school senior or graduate (GED and CHSPE also qualify), plan to pursue an undergraduate degree at an accredited community college, licensed vocational school, or four-year college, and demonstrate financial need. Selection weighs severity of disability, financial need, GPA, seriousness of purpose, and depth of character.
The award is unusually durable for a program of this size: after the initial award, recipients may earn up to three renewals — four years of support in total, or until the undergraduate degree is finished. Applicants need sponsorship from an Elks lodge in California or Hawaii, which means contacting a local lodge and asking an elected officer to sign the sponsoring-lodge section; no Elks membership is required. Applications are available on the association's website from November 15 through the March 15 postmark deadline.
Eligibility
- U.S. citizen and resident of California or Hawaii
- Physical, neurological, visual, or hearing impairment, and/or speech-language disorder (verified by two specialist reports)
- High school senior, high school graduate, or GED/CHSPE holder
- Planning an undergraduate degree at an accredited community college, licensed vocational school, or four-year college
- Demonstrated financial need
- Sponsorship section signed by an elected officer of a California or Hawaii Elks lodge (membership not required)
How To Apply
- Download the application from the CHEA website when it posts on November 15, contact a California or Hawaii Elks lodge to have an elected officer complete the sponsoring-lodge section, and assemble the packet: personal information forms, two specialist reports, financial analysis forms, and a sealed official transcript. Packets are accepted at the Major Project office beginning February 1 and must be postmarked by March 15 (received by April 1).
Frequently Asked Questions
What disabilities qualify for the CHEA scholarship?
Physical impairments, neurological impairments, visual impairments, hearing impairments, and speech-language disorders. The application packet includes two specialist report forms to document the disability, and severity of disability is one of the selection criteria.
How much is the award and can it be renewed?
Awards are normally $3,000 for four-year college students and $1,000 for community college or vocational students. Recipients may receive up to three renewals — four total years of support or until the undergraduate degree is completed.
Do I need to be an Elks member?
No. You do need lodge sponsorship: contact any Elks lodge in California or Hawaii and ask an elected lodge officer to sign the sponsoring-lodge section of your application.