By Ava Steffens
Rebecca VanLuvender, from a small town near Mount Vernon, Illinois, said receiving the Southern at 150 Scholars Excellence Award was what opened the door to her future as a Saluki.
Now a senior studying architecture, she has her full tuition covered by the scholarship. This award is reserved for SIU students from communities south of Interstate 64 who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement, maintaining a GPA of at least 3.5.
Through weekly studio class sessions, VanLuvender has built strong connections within her major. These sessions, filled with engaging projects — whether working independently or collaborating in groups — have made the design classes enjoyable and played a key role in her growth as both an aspiring architect and a proud Saluki.
“They are four-hour blocks on Monday, Wednesday and Friday,” she said. “They give us an opportunity to immerse ourselves in our studio projects. It is wonderful to work with the same people, and the program has a good structure.”
VanLuvender is also actively involved with Alpha Rho Chi, the professional architecture fraternity, which provides her with valuable opportunities for social and professional networking and connections with alumni. Thanks to the supportive community of Alpha Rho Chi, dedicated professors and an enriching studio culture, she enjoys a vibrant campus life while staying just 45 minutes from her family.
VanLuvender also served as a residential assistant (RA) in her second year at SIU, which allowed her to explore new aspects of campus life and build meaningful connections with incoming students.
“I come from a very large, blended family,” she said. “When I became an RA, I had nobody else in the room, so living completely alone for the first time was a challenging transition.”
While growing up with many siblings was rewarding, VanLuvender said it also made the financial side of attending college feel overwhelming. Receiving the scholarship made it possible for her to pursue her education without financial barriers.
“I remember my financial aid advisor called me while I was at soccer practice during my senior year of high school, and I told my mom the good news as soon as I got home,” she recalled. “It was exciting and exhilarating because the scholarship was life-changing.”
She says that she was first torn between committing to community college or to SIU, but receiving the scholarship sealed the deal. She is the first in her family to attend college and credits SIU with opening doors to opportunities that would not have been possible otherwise.
“I hadn’t understood how much donations impact people until I was one of those impacted,” she said. “Being in the shoes of someone who receives those donations has changed my perspective.”
VanLuvender is currently participating in an architecture internship that will give her a head start toward the master’s degree she plans to pursue. Her goal is to earn her architect’s license and design commercial buildings, working for a firm that specializes in community spaces.
As one of 21 universities nationwide recognized by the Carnegie Classification for both Research 1 and Opportunity University status, SIU is dedicated to expanding access to higher education for students from all backgrounds. Gifts help students like VanLuvender pursue their dreams, overcome barriers and make a difference on campus. Make a gift today at siuf.org/give.