Dan Lamothe always has a story to tell. Since he was a fifth-grader growing up in Chicopee, Mass., he knew he would become a reporter.

“I take satisfaction in telling a good story and making a difference with some of what I write,” Lamothe explains.

As the oldest of three children, Lamothe was responsible for financing his entire college education. Thanks to his 2000 Most Valuable Student scholarship, Lamothe’s own story does not end with a high school diploma.

“When I received the Most Valuable Student scholarship, I remember jumping around like a 5-year-old on Christmas!” he exclaims. “I felt like I had hit the lottery.”

With the help of the ENF, Lamothe graduated in 2004 with a major in journalism from the University of Massachusetts, and is now a successful reporter for the Military Times Media Group.

This job has enabled Lamothe to share many unique stories. He flew to the Midwest to write about Sgt. Maj. Carlton Kent, the top enlisted Marine who has served for more than 30 years. He also met Commandant Gen. James Conway, the Marine Corps’ top officer, and interviewed R. Lee Ermey, a former Marine who starred in the film, Full Metal Jacket.

Though not part of his job, Lamothe’s stories reach beyond military ranks. Having grown up with the Red Sox, he uses his spare time to edit Red Sox Monster, a popular baseball blog that has been featured in Sports Illustrated, Gawker Media and Yahoo! Sports.

We look forward hearing more from Lamothe as his story continues!

In 2008-09, the Elks National Foundation allocated $2.296 million to fund the Most Valuable Student Scholarships. For more information about the Most Valuable Student scholarship program, please visit www.elks.org/enf/scholars.

ENF Scholars: If you are interested in pursuing a career in journalism and would like advice from a fellow scholar, email KristenS@elks.org.