The Blue and Gold Alumni Scholarship was established by the alumni of Elkin High School in November of 2020. It is now a division of EAEF.
The mission of the scholarship is to assist economically-disadvantaged students and graduates of Elkin High School to pursue a degree/certification in a vocational-technical field that research has indicated is critically needed in the larger Elkin/Tri-County Community.
In our research, we have found that there is an extreme shortage of skilled workers needed by business and industry in our area, and the lack of a skilled workforce may be preventing new industry from locating here. Below is a table we have compiled to show the number of job openings in critical occupations in our area.
| Skilled Workers Needed in Surry & Surrounding Counties | Number Needed |
| Nurses | 853 |
| Truck Drivers (CDL) | 456 |
| Maintenance/Repair | 268 |
| Electricians/Electronics | 153 |
| Auto Technicians/Mechanics | 147 |
| Plumbers | 99 |
| Welders | 88 |
| HVAC (Heating/Air Conditioning) | 87 |
| Machinists/Mechatronics | 86 |
| Diesel Mechanics | 47 |
In the third year of granting scholarships, the scholarship committee has awarded 26 scholarships to students studying in the following areas: Computerized Machining, Electrical Systems, Electronics, Nursing, Medical Technology, Law Enforcement, Commercial Art, Welding, IT/Networking and Business. Scholarships are awarded in May of each year. To apply, see Kerri Mullis, Guidance Counselor at Elkin High School.