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Rita Vital Scholarship

Rita Vital Legacy

Inspired by his mother Rita's lifelong example of hospitality and service, Greg Vital established the Rita Vital Endowed Scholarship to encourage Southern students to use their gifts to serve others, creating a lasting legacy of compassion, leadership, and Christian service.

Win up to $2500

Thanks to the generosity of the Vital family, the Rita Vital Endowed Scholarship for Faith and Service-Learning, students have an opportunity to win up to $2500. This fund was established in honor of Rita Vital’s lifelong pursuit of service and to assist current students with a deep desire to serve others during their time at Southern Adventist University.    

Qualifications

Requirements for students who wish to apply:     

  1. Recipients must be completing their Freshman, Sophomore, or Junior year at Southern.   
  2. Recipients must plan to be enrolled in person at Southern for the 2026-2027 school year. 
  3. Recipients must have a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA.   
  4. Recipients must not have a full tuition scholarship to Southern.  
  5. Recipients must have a strong interest and desire to serve others.   
  6. Recipient must submit a 400-600-word reflective essay written without the use of AI (we want to hear your voice!)     

    • Summarize how you have served others in your community throughout your life (before coming to Southern, while at Southern through clubs, LifeGroups, your church, campus events, etc.)   
    • How has being involved in service transformed you personally: your character, your walk with Jesus, etc.   
    • Share what your plans are after graduation and demonstrate specifically how serving others has impacted your calling and career choice.