Rodney Fleming, a Labette County High School senior, was notified last Saturday that he won the state level “Elks National Foundation’s Most Valuable Student Competition.”
The award guarantees Rodney of $4,000 in scholarships ($1,000 for four years) and advances him to the national level of competition that will place him in the running to win a $60,000 scholarship.
The national level takes the top 500 applicants from across the nation and narrows them to a final winner.
Tony Nash, local representative for the Elks Scholarship Program, along with Paula Ash of the Kansas Association of Elks Scholarship Program, said this was the first time anyone from the Parsons Elks Lodge has made it to the national level.
Nash said this program is very competitive and required Rodney to spend many hours of preparation, combining a portfolio that gives an overview of the applicant’s accomplishments, achievements, leadership, community service, letters of recommendation, photos and an essay on an assignment topic.
“What a wonderful picture that his essay and portfolio painted of this young man,” said Nash. “His essay response hit home, as well.”
As a state level winner, Rodney will speak at a state meeting of the Elks on Sunday, May 3.
He will be notified of his status in the national competition on March 15.
Stacy Smith, college orientation instructor at LCHS, commented, “I knew after reading his essay that Rodney was going to impress many with his view, but when we realized the magnitude of what he was in the running for, the room was ecstatic. He is truly deserving of this type of award.”
Rodney’s essay was on the subject of equality and the importance for society to exert a bit more effort in everything they do. “…we need to quit bringing other people, other countries, down and start building everything again from the ground up,” he wrote in the conclusion of his award-winning essay.
Rodney is the son of Rod and Denise Fleming and he plans to attend Syracuse University in New York with a major in public relations and broadcast journalism.
