Pillars of Strength scholarship applications open November 11
Finding community through education
Jamie Lafollette is breathing a little easier these days as she pursues a bachelor’s degree in marketing at University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC). Lafollette compares getting her degree and investing in her future to “putting on an oxygen mask” before supporting someone else. It is not an act of selfishness but rather a necessary step that will help her better support those around her.
Lafollette, a caregiver to her U.S. Marine Corps veteran husband, was one of eight caregivers of wounded, ill, or injured military servicemembers and veterans selected as 2026 Pillars of Strength scholars.
“I was a little bit in shock because I wasn’t expecting to receive the scholarship. There aren’t many people around me on a daily basis who truly understand this experience, so it was really wonderful to be seen by a community that gets it,” Lafollette said.
“Even in the [online] classes at UMGC and in the discussion posts, it feels like I’m part of a community with a shared understanding. Whether people are serving themselves or supporting a spouse, they understand a little of what we’ve all been through. That shared experience really builds community, and it has made this educational journey feel very different for me.”
A scholarship designed for caregivers
Applications for the 2027 Pillars of Strength scholarship open November 11, 2026, and close April 30, 2027. The scholarship supports caregivers of wounded, ill, or injured military servicemembers and veterans who plan to pursue a degree or certificate at UMGC.
Since its establishment in 2013, the program has provided nearly 100 full scholarships to military caregivers pursuing bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Doctoral programs are not included.
All eight scholars selected in 2026 are military spouses, but the Pillars of Strength scholarship is also open to parents, stepparents, siblings, stepsiblings, fiancés, children, stepchildren, and even friends who act as caregivers of servicemembers or veterans who became wounded, injured, or ill in the line of duty. Sharon Grassi, a 2025 scholar, for example, cares for her son, a former U.S. Army combat medic and infantry sergeant.
Support beyond the classroom
Previous undergraduate scholars are also eligible to reapply. LaKeisha Bruku ’25 became a two-time Pillars scholar when she reapplied to pursue a master’s degree in cybersecurity management and policy this year.
The scholarship is also open to military caregivers worldwide.
“UMGC’s global reach allows us to bring education to caregivers wherever they are, so they can study and provide care at the same time,” said Nate James, an advanced military education coordinator at UMGC, who refers to caregivers as “hidden heroes.”
“Most of our scholars are stateside, but we have also supported scholars in places like Germany and India,” said James. “We have a scholar in Australia right now.”
James and his colleagues in Veterans Initiatives work to help create a more personal experience for Pillars scholars. They help foster the sense of community that Lafollette and other caregivers say makes UMGC special. The support goes beyond tuition assistance and classroom experiences. James said it is meant to create something that “feels more like family.”
As 2026 scholar Elizabeth Snell discovered, that support can begin long before a caregiver formally enrolls. Snell, who cares for her U.S. Marine Corps veteran husband, is also pursuing a bachelor’s degree in marketing.
Snell learned about the Pillars of Strength Scholarship through the Elizabeth Dole Foundation Hidden Heroes Campaign shortly before the April deadline. The support she received during the application process, however, gave her an early sense of the community available to caregivers at UMGC.
“I found out about the Pillars of Strength Scholarship only a couple of weeks before the deadline, and Nate James from [UMGC’s] advising really went out of his way to help me make sure I had the right documents in place,” Snell said.
“That set the tone for me with UMGC. I thought, if someone is this willing to help a stranger who is not even enrolled yet, what must the support be like once I become a student? I’ve found that support to be ongoing, including with my success coach, with my professors, and throughout my experience. I feel supported. I feel like other people want me to win. I’m not just a number.”
The 2026 Pillars of Strength scholars are pursuing degrees in fields including cybersecurity, health care, communications, business, and marketing. Their stories reflect the responsibilities caregivers balance and the role education can play in helping them build a path forward.
Elizabeth Snell, UMGC student 2026 Pillars of Strength scholarship recipient
The Pillars of Strength Scholarship is made possible by support from the Blewitt Family, the Kahlert Foundation, and private donations. Individuals interested in supporting future scholarship recipients can learn more through UMGC's giving website.