Chattanooga, TN – Morning Pointe Senior Living is proud to celebrate its co-founder, and Tennessee State Representative Greg A. Vital, who has been recognized by the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) with the 2025 Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Philanthropy. This prestigious honor recognizes individuals and organizations that have generously dedicated resources, finances, and personal time to advancing Tennessee’s higher education system.
Cleveland State Community College nominated State Representative Vital for the award because of his outstanding generosity and lifelong commitment to education and conservation. Through his support, the college created the Greg A. Vital Center for Natural Resources and Conservation within the newly renovated Carl Hite Math and Science Building on its Cleveland campus.
The Vital Center is home to Cleveland State’s Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries (FWF) program as well as its Agriculture program. More than just a learning space, it serves as a hub where students, educators, and professionals in natural resources, agriculture, industry, and parks collaborate to address environmental challenges and prepare the next generation of conservation leaders.
“We need to instill the importance of stewardship of our land and water and the special places we call home. It’s exciting to see Tennessee grow; we are attracting new industry, and people are moving here. One of the important things people choose when they come to Tennessee is our quality of life. Our state parks and our outdoor spaces and public lands are an important part of that. We’ve got to continue to protect those spaces, but we need professionals who understand how to incorporate all those and safeguard them. That is what Cleveland State is doing.”
He also expressed gratitude for the recognition, noting the personal meaning of being honored for causes that have shaped both his public service and his philanthropic work:
“I am humbled by this award and thankful to Cleveland State and the Tennessee Board of Regents. Education, conservation, and community have always been passions of mine, and it is an honor to invest in programs that will strengthen our state for generations to come.”
That same spirit of service has guided Vital’s work at Morning Pointe Senior Living, where the mission has always been to enrich the lives of seniors and support families through compassionate care, purpose-driven programs, and community partnerships.
About Morning Pointe Senior Living
Founded in 1997 by Greg A. Vital and Franklin Farrow, Morning Pointe Senior Living operates 42 assisted living and Alzheimer’s memory care communities across five southeastern states. In the Tennessee Valley, communities are located in Chattanooga, East Hamilton, Collegedale, Hixson, and Walker County, Georgia. Vital represents Tennessee House of Representatives District 29, the eastern part of Hamilton County.
