Financial Aid
Private Scholarships Helped Me Attend a University: Kai Barton
An active participant on campus, Kai Barton (‘25), a psychology major from Tooele, UT, has served as the freshman class vice president and as the vice president of student relations in the SVU Student Government Association. She has also worked as a wellness intern. Initially planning to attend a local junior college due to financial concerns, Barton’s admissions counselor worked closely with her to secure institutional scholarships that enabled her to attend SVU.
Kai Barton (’25)
“I’m paying my own way through college, so having scholarships has really helped ease my mind on my finances, and I’ve been able to focus a lot more time on student government and other campus activities,” Barton said. “Scholarships are meant to help students dedicate more time and focus to their academic work. That’s what they’ve done for me and I’m so grateful for it.”
Getting Need-based Financial Aid Made It Possible for Me to Enjoy Extracurriculars: Nick Baker
Initially planning to attend Brigham Young University, Nick Baker’s (‘23) plans changed when he received a performing arts scholarship from SVU, allowing him to join the university’s a cappella group, Accolade. Baker, a business management and leadership major from Los Angeles, CA, has also had time to compete on the NCAA Division III the men’s golf team, found the pickleball club, and participate in several RAM clinics with the Pre-Health Professional program.
Nick Baker (’23)
“The biggest help from receiving scholarships was that they made it much easier for me to not have to worry so much about how I was going to pay for school,” Baker said. “I could focus on my education while also taking advantage of several extracurriculars, like Accolade, to round out my education.”
Scholarships Enabled Me to Go to College With Other Latter-day Saints: Tapaita Daligdig
Tapaita Daligdig (‘25), is a member of the Polynesian Heritage Association and the cheer team, and works in Student Life with plans to pursue speech pathology after graduation. (She’s majoring in family and human development, and is from Gilbert, AZ.) After an injury prevented her from participating in cheer, Tapaita credits the need-based scholarships she received from the university for helping support her financially and allowing her to remain in school.
Tapaita Daligdig (’25)
“If it wasn’t for scholarships, I wouldn’t have been able to receive an education at Southern Virginia, which is what I really wanted,” Daligdig said. “I always wanted to be in a community that revolved around loving one another and my faith, but was small as well. And Southern Virginia is that perfect place.”
Institutional Aid Made it Easier to Focus on Being a Pre-law Major: Ethan Campbell
After transferring to SVU his sophomore year, the institutional scholarships Ethan Campbell (‘24) received motivated him to focus on his academics. Campbell, a political science major from Centerville, UT, now plans to attend law school after graduation. Currently working in admissions as a call center supervisor and data analyst, Campbell has also participated on the university’s NCAA DIII men’s golf and tennis teams and is an active member of the pre-law club.
Ethan Campbell (’24)
“After getting married and moving across the country to attend Southern Virginia, receiving scholarships has changed the way I look at school,” said Campbell. “It’s helped me to stay focused on all my classes, work hard, and be very meticulous with my studies, which has really helped me prepare for my future.”
Learn More About SVU’s University Scholarships and Financial Aid Options
Want to know more about the private scholarships and aid that SVU offers to students or better understand the financial aid process? Be sure to check out SVU’s guide — Private Scholarships vs. Federal Loans: A Financial Aid Guide for Latter-day Saint Students. In this resource, you’ll learn why it’s OK to take on smart debt for life investments like college, what the difference between a scholarship and a loan is, and what the FAFSA is (and how to complete it).
