Below, Petrelli describes the profound impact the scholarship has had on her life, and why she is grateful to those who choose to support the Leadership Foundation.
How did receiving the scholarship affect you? 
As a first-generation, out-of-state student paying for college on my own, that is not an easy task. Last semester I was working three jobs on top of balancing classes and organizations, but this semester I knew I wanted to get more involved at school. I had no idea how I was going to pay for school, an apartment, or living expenses. I was determined to make it work. A scholarship such as the Dr. Philip H. Turnquist Southern Province Scholarship is incredibly helpful. I don't have to worry about how I'm going to afford my senior year of college. I've been able to put my energy toward planning a week of Delta Sigma Pi recruitment events for over 80 brothers and 70 recruits.
What would you say to a brother to encourage them to apply for scholarships?
I would encourage all brothers to apply for Deltasig scholarships. They are brothers of DSP for a reason - they're highly motivated, accomplished, and all around impressive people. There is no reason for them not to apply. The requirements are not difficult to fulfill, and they actually provide an opportunity to reflect on past experiences while planning for future endeavors.
How do you choose to pay it forward?
I am going to pay it forward by being as involved as I can be within my school and organization communities. One day, I hope to be able to fund scholarships for other motivated students trying to make an impact, but for now I'm going to work on managing my impact. Between planning Deltasig recruitment, leading a yearbook staff, volunteering with Dance Marathon and Relay for Life, and mentoring young students, I want to share as much knowledge as possible with the people around me to make their college experience the best it can be.
Congratulations, Samantha!