Avigayl Feinberg | UMGC Gobal Media Center

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

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.”

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.

Claudia Escobar (Saint Johns, FL): 2022 Pillars of Strength Scholarship Recipient

Claudia Escobar’s marriage to Army Staff Sgt. Justin Langdo had barely started when he was given a cancer diagnosis that would turn their lives upside down. Among other things, the medical news meant they might have to live on Claudia’s salary alone.

Rachel Donnatien (Bel Air, MD): 2022 Pillars of Strength Scholarship Recipient

Trevor Donnatien had already left the Army by the time he met Rachel. The man she describes as “the rock of our family” embraced her children when they married, and the couple has a 7-month-old girl and another child on the way.

Michael Vyas Overcomes Preconceptions as Caregiver to His Wife, Rachelle

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.

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.

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

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.

Caring for Sister Inspires David Williams to Seek Degree in Healthcare

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

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.

Lyra Helms to Connect Degree in Cybersecurity with Experience in Healthcare

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.

UMGC Global Media Center Author: Avigayl Feinberg