For a video announcing the recipients, visit; https://youtu.be/Po5HOyiAnaU
SPRINGFIELD, Va. (Jan. 29, 2025) – Hope For The Warriors recently awarded 19 Military Spouse and Caregiver Scholarships to recipients located across the country, in higher education for the spring 2025 semester.
Hope For The Warriors is a national nonprofit dedicated to restoring a foundation of stability, strength and community for post-9/11 veterans, service members and military families.
Since 2006, Hope For The Warriors has awarded Military Spouse and Caregiver Scholarships twice a year. The program recognizes and rewards post-9/11 spouses and caregivers for their strength, fidelity and resolve despite adversity as they assume critical roles in the financial well-being of their families.
Scholarships vary from $1,800 to $2,500 and are applied toward higher education at an accredited U.S. university, college, or trade school. Unique to the program is a scholarship for a Ph.D. or Master of Social Work or Counseling Psychology students, Restoring Hope.
In the spring of 2025, six scholarships were funded for multiple semesters thanks to The Jerry Wright Memorial Scholarship Fund and The Riding For Warriors Scholarship Fund, sponsored by Hillmann Counseling, LLC, and Michael Nehlsen.
Three scholarships were funded through The Jerry Wright Memorial Scholarship Fund for multiple semesters through a gift from Fred and Maria Jose Wright with the goal of allowing recipients to achieve their educational goals without interruption. These include one Restoring Family and one Restoring Self scholarship (bachelor’s degrees) at $2,500 each and one New Beginnings Scholarship (associate and entry level classes or training) at $1,800.
The Riding For Warriors Scholarship Fund, sponsored by Hillmann Consulting, LLC, and Michael Nehlsen, funded three scholarships for multiple semesters which include two Restoring Self Scholarships at $2,500 and one New Beginnings Scholarship at $1,800. In addition, the Riding For Warriors Scholarship Fund also sponsored the remaining three New Beginning Scholarships.
Scholarships totaling $44,000 were awarded to the following for the 2025 spring semester:
- Anica Adzievskan of Bellevue, Washington: Honorary Scholarship, Florida Gulf Coast University
- Amanda Ryskowski of Peoria, Arizona: Honorary Scholarship, Johns Hopkins University
- Amelia Willis of Williamson, Texas: Honorary Scholarship, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Karla Seijas of San Diego, California: Honorary Scholarship, University of California Merced
- Scheri Goff of Sacramento, California: Restoring Hope Scholarship, Maryland University of Integrative Health
- Hannah MacFarlane of Okinawa, Japan: Restoring Hope Scholarship, Liberty University
- Megan Roman of Palm Bay, Florida: Restoring Hope Scholarship, Barry University
- Brandi Ashford of Florence, Montana: Restoring Hope Scholarship, University of Montana -Missoula
- Mikayla DeKlein of Columbia, South Carolina: Restoring Hope Scholarship, University of South Carolina
- Alice Tabares of Palm Bay, Florida: Restoring Hope Scholarship, Broward College
- Laura Hentig of Monument, Colorado: Restoring Self Scholarship, University of Colorado – Colorado Springs. The Riding For Warriors Scholarship Fund, sponsored by Hillmann Consulting, LLC, and Michael Nehlsen.
- Brenda Higgs of Palmer, Alaska: Restoring Self Scholarship, Nightingale College. The Riding For Warriors Scholarship Fund, sponsored by Hillmann Consulting, LLC, and Michael Nehlsen.
- Kelsey Smith of Clearwater, Florida: Restoring Self Scholarship, Full Sail University. The Jerry Wright Memorial Scholarship Fund.
- Sarah Monahan of Bayville, New Jersey: Restoring Family Scholarship, Chamberlain University. The Jerry Wright Memorial Scholarship Fund.
- Fatima Johnson of King William, Virginia: New Beginnings Scholarship, Northern Virginia Community College. The Riding For Warriors Scholarship Fund, sponsored by Hillmann Consulting, LLC, and Michael Nehlsen.
- Crystal Lucero of Montgomery, Texas: New Beginnings Scholarship, Lone Star Community College. The Riding For Warriors Scholarship Fund, sponsored by Hillmann Consulting, LLC, and Michael Nehlsen.
- Anna Meeks of Clarksville, Tennessee: New Beginnings Scholarship, Austin Peay State University. The Riding For Warriors Scholarship Fund, sponsored by Hillmann Consulting, LLC, and Michael Nehlsen.
- Sarah Reimers of Palm Bay, Florida: New Beginnings Scholarship, Eastern Florida University. The Jerry Wright Memorial Scholarship Fund.
- Erin Call of Brighton, Michigan: New Beginnings Scholarship, Naturopathic Institute of Therapies and Education. The Riding For Warriors Scholarship Fund, sponsored by Hillmann Consulting, LLC, and Michael Nehlsen.
”“We’re most proud of this program as it recognizes and rewards military spouses for their sacrifices and service,” said Robin Kelleher, founder and CEO of the nonprofit organization. “It’s been really exciting to see how this program continues to grow each year as we reward new and returning spouses with scholarships.”
Since the program’s inception, Hope For The Warriors has granted 290 Military Spouse and Caregiver Scholarships totaling $737,107.
The 2025 fall scholarship application is open from March 1 – April 30. To receive an application to apply, visit hopeforthewarriors.org and connect for services.
For more information on Hope For The Warriors or to connect for services, visit hopeforthewarriors.org, Facebook, X, Instagram or LinkedIn.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Erin McCloskey
Hope For The Warriors
erin@etmccloskey.com
(336) 207-5222
About Hope For The Warriors
Founded in 2006, Hope For The Warriors is a national nonprofit dedicated to restoring a foundation of stability, strength and community for post-9/11 veterans, service members and military families. Since its inception, Hope For The Warriors has served over 171,000 service members, veterans, military spouses, and caregivers through 10 programs/services focused on providing financial, career and educational stability; physical and emotional strength; and social support that builds community. This includes The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Hope For The Warriors providing confidential, high-quality mental health care services. For more information, visit hopeforthewarriors.org, Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube or LinkedIn.
