Psychopharmacology. Most of us don’t know what this word means, but for Kari Massar, it means caring for others. Kari plans on becoming a Physician Assistant after graduation to be a part of a team that helps patients.

Kari is a senior at the University of Colorado-Denver, where she majors in Psychology, minors in Biology, and researches psychopharmacology in her spare time. Her education and the pursuit of her dreams are possible thanks to the ENF. With the help of the Arvada, Colo., Lodge, where her father was an Elk before his death, Kari received the ENF Emergency Educational Grant, which helped ease the financial burden of college.

Throughout college, Kari continues to volunteer at the Lodge, helping with holiday parties and Mother’s and Father’s Day brunches. It’s clear the Elks instilled its mission in Kari, which she carries out in her daily life by teaching, researching, volunteering and soon, helping patients.

After graduation, Kari will continue to help others as she applies to graduate school to become a Physician Assistant.

“I felt that because Physician Assistants worked as a team with the doctors, they were less stressed and pressured, and could really give their patients great care from the bottom of their hearts,” says Kari.

Thanks to the ENF Emergency Educational Grant, Kari will be able to focus on doing what she loves instead of focusing on paying back student loans.

“The Elks scholarship has helped in so many ways,” she says. “I am so thankful that I will be graduating with a Bachelor's Degree and no debt, giving me a jump start in Physician Assistant school!”

Kari will start to work full-time in her current job as a preschool teacher after graduation, while continuing to volunteer and research. At the same time, she will apply to University of Colorado-Denver’s Physician Assistant program. We wish her the best of luck!

“Thank you so much for everything you have done, Elks,” says Kari. “You have helped me become the person I am today, and have encouraged me to achieve all I can in my future. Thank you!”

In 2009-10, the Elks National Foundation allocated $350,000 to fund the Emergency Educational Grant program for children of deceased or totally disabled Elks. If you know an Elk child who may be eligible to receive an Emergency Educational Grant, encourage them to visit www.elks.org/enf/scholars for information, including eligibility and deadlines.