UMGC Global Media Center Author: Sarah Berner Nelson

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.