On Saturday, September 13, 2025, some of Benet’s brightest scholars gathered together at Villa St. Benedict to learn from and share in the wisdom and insight the residents had to offer. This inaugural Scholars event is a tradition at Benet, designed to highlight the importance of community service and outreach, which are hallmarks of the Scholars Program. Villa St. Benedict is a Catholic senior living community located only minutes from Benet’s campus, and it is co-sponsored by the Benedictine Sisters of the Sacred Heart. Residents at this facility share in service, daily activities, and company, while keeping the Benedictine cornerstone values of hospitality, stewardship, respect, and justice at the forefront of everything they do. These values could not be more appropriate for Benet Scholars to emulate, as the program underscores the importance of selflessness and service, modeled by the very saints that serve as the foundation of the Scholars Program.

Benet Scholars came together at the event to enjoy conversation, food, and community, savoring everything from root beer floats and pizza to fellowship and engaging wit. As one sophomore Scholar, Peter Warren, stated, “The night was a lot of fun! I really enjoyed the opportunity to meet some of the residents at Villa St. Benedict and I really liked working with the other Scholars. I will be sure to return next year.” This lively evening of ideas and dialogue set the stage for a vibrant year of Scholars service ahead.

The Scholars community is both cohesive and committed, as it is most highly focused on community. Just days after the Scholars Dinner, students came together once again to partake in a special Scholars Mass in the Benet Chapel. Families of Scholars joined as well, socializing and discussing the year ahead. The Scholars Dinner was a resounding success, and Scholars are encouraged to carry the insights they learned from the residents at Villa St. Benedict into community service activities throughout the year.