Scholarship Awards Banquet Presents $53,500 to Local Students
Submitted by Al Kayal, PSP; Scholarship Committee Chair
On Sunday, May 3, 2026, the Phoenix Elks Lodge #335 Scholarship Committee held its annual Scholarship Awards Banquet in conjunction with the Lodge Americanism Committee’s Americanism Essay Contest Awards presentations. Approximately 75 awardees, family, teachers, and supporters were in attendance to honor these talented and accomplished young ladies and gentlemen.
The Lodge awarded $29,500 to thirteen locally-sponsored high school seniors to assist them in defraying the cost of their education in the fall. In addition to the Lodge scholarships, two students were presented with scholarships from the Arizona Elks Association (AEA) and two students received Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student (MVS) Scholarships. Elks National Foundation Legacy Awards were also presented to grandchildren of Lodge members, bringing the total of all scholarships presented to $53,500.
This year’s scholarship recipients:
- Lirio Delgado Diaz — Arizona Agribusiness & Equine Center South Mountain; $3,500 Lodge Scholarship, $4,000 MVS Scholarship
- Molley Willard — Cactus Shadows High School; $3,000 Lodge Scholarship
- Zinachimdi Nwafor — BASIS Peoria; $2,500 Lodge Scholarship, $2,000 AEA Scholarship
- Camila Cruz-Patino — Xavier College Preparatory School; $2,000 Lodge Scholarship
- Zoe MacMillan — Cactus Shadows High School; $1,500 Lodge Scholarship
- Alyssa Ferrari — Desert Oasis High School; $1,500 Lodge Scholarship, $6,000 Legacy Award
- Ellory Moran — Glenbrook South High School; $1,500 Lodge Scholarship, $6,000 Legacy Award
- Blaise Nyandwi — Camelback High School; $3,500 Lodge Scholarship, $2,000 AEA Scholarship
- Cooper Carlson — Horizon High School; $3,000 Lodge Scholarship
- Ayan Bhakta — Mountain Ridge High School; $2,500 Lodge Scholarship, $4,000 MVS Scholarship
- Nathan Garcia — Madison Highland Preparatory; $2,000 Lodge Scholarship
- Noah Hernandez — Sunnyslope High School; $1,500 Lodge Scholarship
- Vincent Trotta — North Phoenix Preparatory Academy; $1,500 Lodge Scholarship
The Lodge was also especially proud to recognize Americanism Essay Contest winner Kai Pino, who earned 2nd Place at Grand Lodge — an outstanding achievement reflecting the talent and dedication of our local youth.
We congratulate all our scholarship winners and wish them the best as they pursue their chosen fields of study. The Lodge, AEA, MVS, and Legacy scholarships are awarded to high school seniors filing an application through the Elks Grand Lodge website. Applications for the 2026–2027 scholarship cycle will be available beginning August 1, 2026.
Originally published in the June 2026 Tracks newsletter of Phoenix Elks Lodge #335. Read the full issue (PDF).
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