Chattanooga, TN (March 13, 2026) — Morning Pointe Senior Living is launching a new partnership with Southern Adventist University’s Vegetarian Culinary Arts program, creating opportunities to enhance dining options for residents while providing valuable real-world experience for culinary students.
Recently, students from Southern Adventist University toured Morning Pointe of East Hamilton Assisted Living and The Lantern at Morning Pointe Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence, East Hamilton, meeting with community teams and learning more about dining and hospitality in senior living.
The collaboration will introduce fresh ideas and expanded vegetarian menu options for residents while giving students the opportunity to apply their classroom learning in a real-life setting. Morning Pointe is also exploring internship opportunities for students interested in culinary careers within senior living.
In addition, Southern Adventist University will host the final round of the upcoming Morning Pointe Top Chef Challenge, an internal culinary competition that highlights the scratch cooking, creativity, and farm-to-table partnerships behind the dining experiences served daily in Morning Pointe Assisted Living and Memory Care communities. The competition brings together Food Service Directors from across the organization to showcase dishes that balance nutrition, flavor, presentation, and resident appeal.
“At Morning Pointe, we are always looking for ways to enhance the dining experience for our residents while also fostering meaningful partnerships within our community,” said Justin Leiter, Director of Dining Operations for Morning Pointe Senior Living. “Partnering with Southern Adventist University’s Vegetarian Culinary Arts Program allows us to introduce creative, plant-forward dishes while giving students valuable real-world experience serving older adults in assisted living and memory care settings. It’s a collaboration that benefits both our residents and the next generation of culinary professionals.”
“I am excited for the opportunity that this collaboration with Morning Pointe will afford our Vegetarian Culinary Arts students,” said Chef Bonny Musgrave, Assistant Professor of Vegetarian Culinary Arts at Southern Adventist University. “The real-life experience is priceless. Our students come from a wide variety of dietary lifestyles, including several with food restrictions and allergies, so this opportunity gives them a chance to share what they are learning with others. Hopefully, we will be able to enhance the diets of the vegetarian residents, as well as share with everyone the delicious and nutritious foods that a plant-based diet can offer.”
Morning Pointe Senior Living communities are known for their focus on quality dining experiences that support both nutrition and enjoyment for residents. The new partnership with Southern Adventist University reflects the organization’s continued commitment to innovation, education, and meaningful community partnerships.
About Morning Pointe Senior Living
Founded in 1997 by healthcare entrepreneurs Greg A. Vital and J. Franklin Farrow, Morning Pointe Senior Living operates assisted living and Alzheimer’s memory care communities in five southeastern states, including AL, GA, IN, KY & TN. For more information, visit morningpointe.com.
The philanthropic arm of Morning Pointe Senior Living is the Morning Pointe Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to provide clinical scholarships and caregiver support.
