NEWS
News from the Maine Elks AssociationSanford Elks Honor Youth at Annual Awards Banquet
Much of the evening focused on local students. The top 50 ranked students at the Sanford High School attended and were recognized, with the top students receiving the Elks Student of the Year Award. The Lodge also presented the Elks Junior Student of the Year Award to Junior High School students. Top students were also recognized from the Sanford Regional Technical Center. The event serves as an example of what Elk Lodges do in their communities to support our nation’s youth. Below is a video of the event.
Maine Elks to Hold Annual Convention in Auburn
On May 5-7, 2023, the Maine Elks Association will be holding its State Convention at the Hilton Garden Inn in Auburn, Maine. The annual event is the culmination of the association’s year and will provide members from across the state an opportunity to share in fellowship, attend meetings, banquets, and receive awards for the work they did during the past year. is anticipated that over 200 Elk Members from the state’s 20 Elk Lodges will be in attendance. Registration packets will be available starting at 12 Noon on Friday, May 5, 2023.
On Friday, the convention will kick off with a banquet at which several awards will be presented. Lodges will be presented awards for their work in raising money for the Elks National Foundation, the Drug Awareness Program, Public Relations, Lodge Activities, All-American Lodge Contest, Veterans, and fundraising for the Maine Children’s Cancer Program. In addition, individual members will be recognized including the Outstanding Exalted Ruler’s in each district, the Officer of the Year, Spouse of the Year, and the Elk of the Year awards will be presented.
On Saturday, the Maine Elks Past Exalted Ruler’s Association will hold its annual meeting, followed by the State Trustees meeting, and State Association’s annual meeting. At the annual meeting, the election of officers will take place. In the afternoon, there will be a pre-national convention meeting for those attending the Elks National Convention which will be held in Minneapolis, MN from July 2-5, 2023. In the evening, the youth awards banquet will be held, recognizing youth in several of the Elk’s programs and contests including the Americanism Essay Contest, Elks Drug Awareness Coloring, Poster, Essay, and Video contest, Youth Activities, and six scholarship finalists for the Elks National Foundation’s Most Valuable Student Scholarships will be presented. Capping off the evening will be the association’s check presentation to the Maine Children’s Cancer Program. Last year, the association raised $298,312 to help children and their families fight cancer. The association has raised $5,589,614 as of last year, and it is anticipated that the Maine Elks may even surpass the Six Million Dollar mark within the next two years.
On Sunday, the association will hold its Memorial Service to remember departed members from each Elk Lodge in the State. Following the Memorial Service, the newly elected officers will be installed, and the event will end around noon. Information on the MEA State Convention can be found on this website here; STATE CONVENTION | Maine Elks Association
MEA Calendar Winners for April
Maine’s Most Valuable Student Scholarship Winners for 2023 Announced by ENF
The Elks National Foundation (ENF) has recently announced the State Winners for the Most Valuable Student Scholarship Program. Below are the winners for Maine in 2023. Each of these recipients will receive a four-year $1,000 scholarship for a total of $4,000 dollars to help pay for their college education.
| Nickie Deschaine | Lodge #1954, ME | $1,000.00 | 2023 |
| Marissa Dow | Lodge #835, ME | $1,000.00 | 2023 |
| Matthew Haire | Lodge #2743, ME | $1,000.00 | 2023 |
| Shawn Jiminez | Lodge #1293, ME | $1,000.00 | 2023 |
| Lauren Roussel | Lodge #188, ME | $1,000.00 | 2023 |
| Lucas Towers | Lodge #2430, ME | $1,000.00 | 2023 |
These winners will be presented an award at the MEA State Convention to be held May 5-7, 2023, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Auburn, Maine. For more information on the Elks Scholarship Program, please contact State Scholarship Director Lina Michaud.
Watch Elks National Hoop Shoot Finals Livestream
On Saturday, April 22, 72 National Finalists will vie for a National Championship of the Elks National Hoop Shoot contest at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. While Maine doesn’t have a competitor at this level this year, you can still see how the Elks Hoop Shoot works, and perhaps hold one at your Lodge for next year’s contest. There will be a livestream of the contest from two of the Elks National Foundation’s social channels on YouTube so you can sit on the sidelines from the comfort of your couch, or, you can host a watch party at your Lodge!
ENF Director Jim O’Kelley and past National Finalist Lakyn Boltz will provide live commentary and play-by-plays in a livestream of the girls contest, and past national finalist Zeb Alford and Bart Powell, son of National Director Getty Powell, will host the livestream for the boys.
Bookmark this page for the day of the contest. Follow the ENF’s Facebook page for reminders, and be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel and tap the bell to be notified when we post new content or go live.
Contest Schedule
Links to the livestreams on the ENF’s YouTube will be available on the day of the contest here: News (elks.org)