Missionaries
At Southern Virginia University, we love missionaries. That’s why we’ve made our campus the perfect gathering place for both returning and future missionaries.
RM Scholarships
We award the Returned Missionary Scholarship to students who have served full-time missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or who have completed comparable humanitarian service.
Faith-supportive Community
Southern Virginia University is a gathering place for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. More than 9-in-10 of our students are Latter-day Saints and 1-in-3 are Returned Missionaries. Every student commits to a Code of Honor based on the principles and values of the Church.
Institute & YSA Stake
Our campus is home to a vibrant Young Single Adult Stake and the largest daytime Institute of Religion in the Eastern U.S. where students can earn University credit for religion courses.
Meet Some of Our Missionaries
Caden Ekelson
Attended SVU Before & After His mission
“Both of my roommates were returned missionaries. I came to Southern Virginia with the idea that I was going to go on a mission, but wasn’t 100% sure. Having them as roommates and being in this gospel-centered environment definitely made it an easier decision to go. There are a ton of people here who have testimonies of what a mission can do, and I wanted that for myself.”
Link to news articleCaden’s story
Makenna Jones
Returned Missionary
“Because of the experiences I had on my mission, I didn’t question when I got the impression to come to Southern Virginia University. God knew I would have a very beautiful experience here that I would not be able to get anywhere else.”
Kalisi Mafi
Returned Missionary
“I came to Southern Virginia University three weeks after I got home from my mission. It was hard to get back into the swing of things but coming to SVU really helped me adjust back to normal life and get me back on track with my education. The people here are nice, especially the professors. They actually care about your learning, but more importantly, you as a person”
Blake Dingman
Returned Missionary
“On my mission, I chose to live in a specific way, and I do the same at school,” explained Tebbs. “I have always felt uplifted by the friends I’ve made at Southern Virginia; we can lean on each other if we have questions about scripture study or the gospel, and I don’t think I could have gotten that at a different University.”
Link to news article Blake’s Story
Jordan Gibbons
Returned Missionary
“I went on my mission right out of high school, before I valued studying or learning at all. I don’t think I would’ve been able to survive college had I not gone on my mission. Between the experiences I had serving in Honduras and in classes at Southern Virginia University, I no longer view learning as a chore. The mission opened me up to learning about spiritual things and Southern Virginia has helped me see the value in education.”