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Amber Cerchione (Springfield, VA): 2022 Pillars of Strength Scholarship Recipient

Amber Cerchione never expected to become a caregiver. She met her husband later in his military career and didn’t know what happened in his prior deployments. It wasn’t something they talked about.

Caitlin Bacus (Abilene, TX): 2022 Pillars of Strength Scholarship Recipient

After seven years of excruciating physical illness former Marine Sgt. Paul Bacus has finally returned to the labor force. His wife, Caitlin, has exchanged her role as caregiver to college student, to eventually help assisting veteran servicemembers to find jobs. A Pillars of Strength Scholarship to UMGC will make that aspiration possible.

Michelle Stoltz (Myakka City, FL): 2022 Pillars of Strength Scholarship Recipient

Michelle Stoltz spent the early part of her career as teacher, having earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She suddenly had to give that up when her husband’s injuries, sustained during his military tours in Iraq, required her to take on full-time caregiving duties.

Melissa O’Connell (Baltimore, MD): 2022 Pillars of Strength Scholarship Recipient

When Melissa was introduced to Edward O’Connell in 2005, he was a highly decorated petty officer first class, who served as a Cryptologic Technician Network specialist for Naval Information Warfare Activity at the Office of Naval Intelligence at Fort Meade. He was one of the first 100 cryptologic technicians in the U.S. Navy and a man in demand.

Abigail Compton (Culpeper, VA): 2022 Pillars of Strength Scholarship Recipient

As long as she can remember, Abigail Compton has loved caring for others, but the birth of her first child and her husband’s deployment to Afghanistan meant leaving a career behind to become a stay-at-home mom. And then life changed.

Lyra Helms to Connect Degree in Cybersecurity with Experience in Healthcare

News

Already holding a master’s degree in occupational therapy, the Albuquerque, New Mexico, resident aspires to another master’s degree in cybersecurity management and policy.

Michael Vyas Overcomes Preconceptions as Caregiver to His Wife, Rachelle

News

Being a man taking care of a wounded veteran woman often takes some explaining, said Michael Vyas, one of the four men who were awarded Pillars of Strength scholarships for the first time this year.

Scott Lynch and His Wife Monica “Chose to Fight” for Her Recovery

News

Scott Lynch, one of ten members (and one of the first four males) to receive the Pillars of Strength scholarship, said: “I was overwhelmed with joy and the feeling that somebody’s on your side and there’s a group of people that hear you, see you, recognize you and are rooting for you.”

Caring for Sister Inspires David Williams to Seek Degree in Healthcare

News

David Williams struggled with the culture shock after moving from rural north Florida to suburban Maryland when he also became his sister’s caregiver.

MG Gipson is Pursuing Her Passion in the Music and Dance Industry

News

Maryland resident has been her father’s primary caregiver since high school. After excelling at her job at a music venue, she is using her Pillars of Strength Scholarship to earn a bachelor’s degree and advance her career.

Paula Collins and Her Husband Have “Been Through a Lot of Struggles Together”

News

Paula Collins and husband have been through a lot of struggles together. Paula cried when she learned that she had received the Pillars of Strength scholarship, saying, "I've never worked for something so hard and then actually got it.”

A Message from UMGC Interim President Lawrence E. Leak, Ph.D.

September 28, 2020 Dear Colleagues, I am truly honored to be invited to serve as interim president of UMGC.