The Santa Cruz Elks Lodge #824 began recognizing the Elk of the Year in 1964. This honor is conferred upon the member, who in the opinion of the Exalted Ruler, provided the most extraordinary services to the Lodge during the current year. The following members have received this honor:

1964 Robert Brimblecom
1965 None
1966 James Dumond
1967 Peter Pianavilla
1968 Nino Faggiano
1969 Arnold Levine
1970 Vernon Riddle
1971 Elio Orlando
1972 Marvin Shaw
1973 Spike Pezzola
1974 Joe Licursi
1975 Larry Di Tano and Bob Young
1976 Fred Ruhland
1977 Bob Young
1978 Pete Wilson
1979 Angelo Passarino
1980 Chris Sana
1981 John Wilson
1982 Roger Hope
1983 Ted Alvarez
1984 Larry Di Tano
1985 Bill Sarow
1986 John W. Bowe
1987 Theodore McEwin
1988 Louie F. Moro
1989 George Price
1990 John Harray
1991 Rufus McAin
1992 Bill Wightman
1993 Duke Overton
1994 Alvin Gregory
1995 Lloyd W. Rodoni
1996 Ken Reaves
1997 John Amin
1998 Bernard Volker
1999 J. J. Meyer
2000 Mario Esposito
2001 Dave Zeller
2002 Gary Curto
2003 Rudy Escalante
2004 Don Hayward
2005 Chuck Cheatham
2006 Jeanette Mitchell
2007 Kyle York
2008 Gino Hernandez
2009 Jeanette Mitchell
2010 Eric Aasen
2011 John Greathouse, Jr.
2012 Ed Lake
2013 Susan Ryder
2014 Mike Lambert
2015 Celeste Pezzolo
2016 Amy Doherty

2017 Christina Hernandez
2018 Alanna Maldonado
2019 Ian Mackenzie
2020 Jill Stone
2021 Cheryl Dangreau
2022 Mike Venezio