TESA 4-Year Scholarship
Offered by Texas Elks State Association
About This Scholarship
The Texas Elks State Association 4-Year Scholarship is one of the longest-running fraternal scholarship traditions in Texas, awarded each year to six graduating seniors from Texas high schools — three young men and three young women. Each winner receives $1,250 per year for four years, a total of $5,000, paid directly to the college as a credit on the student's account once enrollment is verified.
Selection follows a transparent 1,000-point rubric: financial need and scholarship each count for 300 points, while leadership with extracurricular activities and strength of character count for 200 points apiece. That balance means the program rewards well-rounded students with genuine need rather than simply the highest GPA. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, Texas residents, and members of the current Texas high school graduating class who plan to pursue a bachelor's degree full time at an accredited junior college, college, or university in the United States.
Applications flow through the Elks lodge network: students complete the official TESA form and file it with the B.P.O. Elks lodge that has jurisdiction where they live, and the lodge endorses and forwards applications to state-level judging. Winners are notified by email in the spring and announced formally at the Texas Elks State Association convention. Renewal for years two through four requires evidence of successfully completing the previous academic year.
Eligibility
- Member of the 2027 graduating class of a Texas high school (or equivalent)
- U.S. citizen and Texas resident when the application is filed
- Planning to pursue a four-year bachelor's degree full time at an accredited U.S. junior college, college, or university
- Judged on financial need (300 pts), scholarship (300 pts), leadership/extracurriculars (200 pts), and character (200 pts)
- Application must be endorsed by the local Elks lodge with jurisdiction over your residence
How To Apply
- Download the official TESA 4-Year Scholarship application from the Texas Elks State Association scholarship page, complete it (Adobe Acrobat fillable form or by hand) with all required signatures and supporting documents, and deliver it to the Texas Elks lodge that covers your home address on or before January 29, 2027. Use the Lodge Locator at elks.org to find your sponsoring lodge; no applications are accepted after the deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be connected to an Elks member to apply?
No. Any qualifying senior in a Texas high school graduating class may apply, but the completed application must be filed with — and endorsed by — the local Elks lodge that has jurisdiction where you live.
How much is the TESA 4-Year Scholarship worth?
Each of the six awards is $1,250 per year for four academic years, a total of $5,000, paid to your school after enrollment is verified. Renewal requires proof that you successfully completed the previous year.
Can I use the award at a two-year college?
You can enroll at an accredited junior college, but you must be pursuing a four-year bachelor's degree program full time to keep receiving the award.