A Legacy That Lives On

07/15/2026

The Tarvin family establishes an endowed scholarship to honor the life and legacy of former Jax State student Leah Grace Tarvin. 

Nearly four years after the loss of their daughter, the Tarvin family is ensuring that Leah Grace Tarvin's compassion, leadership, and servant's heart will continue to make a difference in the lives of Jacksonville State University students for generations to come. 

The family has established the Leah Grace Tarvin Memorial Endowed Scholarship through the Jacksonville State University Foundation to support future students in the Department of Criminal Justice and Forensic Investigation who embody the same qualities that defined Leah's life: leadership, service, and compassion for others. 

For those who knew Leah, those qualities came naturally. 

A Criminal Justice student at Jax State, Leah served as a Resident Assistant and treasurer of the Alpha Phi Sigma Honor Society. She was known for her ability to make everyone feel welcome, her commitment to serving others, and her unwavering support of military members, law enforcement officers, and her fellow students. 

Even after her passing in November 2022, Leah's influence has continued to touch countless lives. 

Just months before her passing, Leah made the decision to be an organ, tissue, and eye donor. Through that selfless choice, she saved five lives, gave sight, and impacted nearly 100 individuals. She also played a role in bringing a baby into this world, a powerful reflection of the life-giving legacy she leaves behind. Her legacy also inspired the unanimous passage of Alabama's Hands-Free Law bearing her name and helped lead to enhanced pedestrian safety improvements on the Jax State campus and throughout the City of Jacksonville. 

Her memory is also reflected on campus through a memorial on the Quad and "Leah's Corner" in the Department of Criminal Justice and Forensic Investigation’s student lounge. 

Now, through an endowed scholarship, the Tarvin family hopes Leah's impact will continue by helping future Gamecocks pursue the same calling to serve others. 

Unlike annual scholarships, an endowed scholarship is invested to create permanent funding, allowing it to support students year after year while preserving the principal gift. The Leah Grace Tarvin Memorial Endowed Scholarship will serve as a lasting tribute to Leah's life while encouraging future students to lead with kindness, integrity, and compassion. 

Those wishing to honor Leah's memory may contribute to the scholarship through the Jacksonville State University Foundation. Every gift helps ensure that her legacy will continue to inspire and support future generations of Jax State students.