AVON PARK, Fla. – Jan. 25, 2018 – The Sebring Elks Lodge has made it easier for Highlands County residents to attend South Florida State College (SFSC).

George Quel, president of the Sebring Elks Lodge, recently presented a check to Jamie Bateman, executive director, SFSC Institutional Advancement, in the amount of $1,000 toward the currently established Sebring Elks Club Scholarship.

“The Sebring Elks Club has been supporting SFSC since 2007,” Bateman said. “The club’s dedication to the community they serve is admirable. We are blessed to receive continued support from the Elks for the Sebring Elks Club Scholarship that is with the SFSC Foundation. Our students are on the receiving end of the Elks support, and because of that our students will be able to focus on their education and not the cost.”

Criteria for a Sebring Elks Club Scholarship are that the applicant must be under the age of 26, have graduated from a high school in Highlands County, must be U.S. citizens, and must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment at SFSC on a minimum of a one-half time basis. They must demonstrate financial need and show evidence of academic promise by having a minimum of a 3.0 GPA on all past high school or college work. Preference will be given to children of Elks Club members, Elks Club members, or U.S. veterans who are members of the Elks Club.

According to its website, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America was founded in 1868 and has more than 850,000 members and 2,000 lodges nationwide. The organization donates more than $80 million each year for benevolent, educational, and patriotic community-minded programs.