Behind every Pillars of Strength Scholarship recipient is a story of sacrifice and resilience. These University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) scholarships honor military caregivers who often put their own dreams on hold to support wounded service members. For many, earning a degree is more than an academic goal; it is a turning point that restores confidence, opens doors, and creates new possibilities for families and communities.
Meet four caregivers who turned their educational journeys into transformative opportunities, making life better for themselves and those around them.
The application period for the next cohort of UMGC’s Pillars of Strength Scholarship is now open and runs through April 30, 2026. Learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Marketing with a Mission: Odisse Lundy Finds Her Voice
After her husband survived a devastating explosion in Afghanistan, Odisse Lundy became a full-time caregiver, managing his recovery while raising two children. In 2023, she received the Pillars of Strength Scholarship and in 2025 earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing. Her education empowered her to broaden her role with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, applying marketing strategies to help the organization expand its online presence. “It’s given me confidence,” she said. “After pouring into everyone else, this was something I did for myself.”
Growing a Vision: Abigail Compton Builds a Thriving Farm
Balancing caregiving for her Marine veteran husband with a budding interest in agriculture, Abigail Compton transformed a hobby into a business after receiving the scholarship in 2022. Her UMGC business degree helped her apply strategic planning to the Compton Family Farm Dairy, now a diversified operation with dairy goats, hogs, and steers. “I didn’t just learn theory,” she said. “I learned how to reverse-engineer a business plan.” Her sons now show goats bred on the farm, and the family’s work helps feed their local community, proof that education can cultivate both personal and community growth.
Creating Opportunity: Amber Meadows Turns Insight into Action
When recent job applications yielded no results, Amber Meadows, caregiver to her medically retired Air Force husband, used her UMGC dual MBA and marketing degrees to launch a business helping veterans and caregivers. Inspired by her own experience and the stories of classmates, Meadows built a service model that fills a critical gap. “The MBA gave me the business knowledge to turn that insight into action,” she said. Her journey is also a lesson in resilience for her daughter, showing that success isn’t always found; it’s built.
Reclaiming Purpose: Scott Lynch Returns to the Workforce
After a decade as a caregiver for his wife, Scott Lynch used the Pillars of Strength Scholarship to earn an MBA from UMGC in Germany. The degree helped him reenter the workforce in environmental engineering and sparked plans for a nonprofit focused on conservation. “It carved out time for me to grow,” he said. “That confidence translated into a job opportunity and brought relief to my wife.” For Lynch, education was the key to unlocking both professional and personal renewal.