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Recipients of the Gunther and Lee Weigel Medical School Scholarship recipients have some advice for Elks scholars thinking about applying. Read what they had to say. If you are interested in applying, click here for more information, and email scholarship@elks.org to request an application. Applications are due annually on May 15.


	If you are attending medical school in the fall of 2014, I would definitely encourage you to apply for the Gunther and Lee Weigel Medical School Scholarship. Gunther Weigel was a passionate member of the Elks, and his wife, Lee Weigel, established these scholarships to honor his memory. It is privilege to be a part of the Weigels’ legacy of service and dedication. Ultimately, this scholarship is a wonderful gift that can be paid forward in your future medical practice by caring for underserved patients. Good luck! Amy Cohee 2012 Gunther & Lee Weigel Medical School Scholarship Recipient, East Tennessee State University 2003 MVS Scholar, College of William & Mary

	The Gunther and Lee Weigel Medical School Scholarship is more than just a merit-based scholarship. It recognizes and rewards individuals who demonstrate leadership, generosity, kindness and sincere altruism. Mr. Weigel was sincere, kind and very generous. Mrs. Lee Weigel embodies those same qualities and more. Thus, anyone applying for this scholarship needs to value leadership, hard-work, humility and kindness the way the Weigels did and do! The most important advice I can give is be yourself and take the time to express the importance of medicine and this scholarship in your life. Good luck to you all! Eraj Din 2012 Gunther & Lee Weigel Medical School Scholarship Recipient, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science 2008 MVS Scholar, Benedictine University

	Mrs. Weigel, who created the scholarship in name of her husband, is incredibly personable and genuinely cares about us as scholarship recipients. She has actively kept up with how I am doing in medical school and I know she cares about the path I take and the impact I make in medicine. The scholarship reminds me there are faces, and a story, behind every scholarship. Take time with your application, and remember to consider who you are, beyond a medical student. Kelly Ryan Murphy 2013 Gunther & Lee Weigel Medical School Scholarship Recipient, Duke University School of Medicine 2009 MVS Scholar, Duke University

	I applied for the scholarship because I already knew I wanted to practice medicine for the under-served communities that typically cannot pay competitive salaries. This scholarship provides me the freedom to practice where and for whom I choose—not where I must in order to repay loans. As far as applying to medical school, I'd say—and this holds true for all applications and interviews—say what you really think, not what you think they want to hear. Talk about the things that make you come alive, both in and out of medicine. Lindsay Poston 2012 Gunther & Lee Weigel Medical School Scholarship recipient, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine 2006 MVS Scholar, Gonzaga University

	Time restraints and the insecurities we all get with competitions almost kept me from applying for the Gunther & Lee Weigel Medical School Scholarship, but I focused and forged ahead with pride in my education and accomplishments. I can’t tell you how glad I am that I did! Once you start medical school you will realize how overwhelming the expenses are—you must take advantage of every financial opportunity out there! Good Luck! Lindsay Schleifer 2013 Gunther & Lee Weigel Medical School Scholarship Recipient, Virginia Commonwealth University 2009 MVS Scholar, College of William & Mary

	Medical school is not cheap, and the idea of accepting loans each year terrified me. With this scholarship, I could focus on academics and explore my interests in public health and community medicine. But Elks offer another valuable gift—the opportunity to join a community of like-minded students. The Elks community has supported me through college so applying to this scholarship was a no-brainer. Angela Suen 2013 Gunther & Lee Weigel Medical School Scholarship Recipient, University of California- San Francisco 2005 MVS Scholar, University of California-Los Angeles

Advice from the Doctor