Rita Houston Scholarship Awarded to First Recipient
Regent College is pleased to announce that the inaugural Rita Houston Scholarship—awarded to a mature student—has been presented to Merina Matthew. The 58 year-old single mother expresses her delight at being at Regent: “Each day that I am in class is a day of wonder and deep appreciation. I often feel like I need to pinch myself to see if I am really at school or if I am dreaming!”
In a very special chapel held on April 11, 2011, Rita Houston was honoured. President Rod Wilson gave the morning homily on Christian hospitality and its gospel importance, highlighting Rita’s unique giftedness in that regard. Countless students over the past 40 years have experienced Rita’s hospitality, enjoying Sunday dinners around her table. In a fitting tribute, President Wilson announced that the Regent College kitchen was being christened The Rita Houston Kitchen (Rita and Merina are pictured in front of its entrance).
Thanks to the generosity of a handful of Rita’s friends and grateful alumni, a scholarship fund was introduced. Two years later, enough has been donated and endowed to yield an annual scholarship. 
Please join with the Regent community in congratulating Merina and in thanking God for the life and ministry of Rita Houston.
Read more about this remarkable woman in the Rita Houston Tribute written by her children.