National scholarship program announces fall 2025 recipients
For a video announcing the recipients, visit; https://youtu.be/6OFfTSLM35g
SPRINGFIELD, Va. (August 26, 2025) – Hope For The Warriors recently awarded 21 Military Spouse and Caregiver Scholarships to recipients located across the country, in higher education for the fall 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 fall 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 Consulting, 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 three New Beginning Scholarships.
Scholarships totaling $46,500 were awarded to the following for the 2025 fall semester:
- Katie Crosby of Schertz, Texas: Honorary Scholarship, Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi
- Stacey Endicott of Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin: Honorary Scholarship, Regent University
- Timothy Ingram of Fayetteville, North Carolina: Honorary Scholarship, Colorado Technical University
- Wendy McDermott of High Springs, Florida: Restoring Hope Scholarship, Capella University
- Carol Tripp of Florence, Oregon: Restoring Hope Scholarship, Liberty University
- Kate Tshikatu-John of Colorado Springs, Colorado: Restoring Hope Scholarship, The Chicago School
- Brandi Ashford of Florence, Montana: Restoring Self Scholarship, University of Montana
- 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.
- Mikayla Deklein of Columbia, South Carolina: Restoring Self Scholarship,University of South Carolina
- Angela Scamahorn of Boerne, Texas: Restoring Self Scholarship, University of the Incarnate Word
- Angelic Smith of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Restoring Family Scholarship, Webster University
- Eva Waters of Newport News City, Virginia: Restoring Family Scholarship William & Mary
- 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.
- Juliet Charles of Windsor Mill, Maryland: New Beginnings Scholarship, American Military University
- Jazzmin King of St. John’s, Florida: New Beginnings Scholarship, Florida State College of Jacksonville. The Riding For Warriors Scholarship Fund, sponsored by Hillmann Consulting, LLC, and Michael Nehlsen.
- Katherine Luciano of Newcastle, Washington: New Beginnings Scholarship, Bellevue Community College. The Riding For Warriors Scholarship Fund, sponsored by Hillmann Consulting, LLC, and Michael Nehlsen.
- Brandy Maxam of Tampa, Florida: New Beginnings, Jersey College of Nursing. The Riding For Warriors Scholarship Fund, sponsored by Hillmann Consulting, LLC, and Michael Nehlsen.
- Sarah Monahan of Bayville, New Jersey: Restoring Family Scholarship, Chamberlain University. The Jerry Wright Memorial Scholarship Fund.
- Sarah Reimers of Palm Bay, Florida: NewBeginnings Scholarship, Eastern Florida University. The Jerry Wright Memorial Scholarship Fund.
- Kelsey Smith of Clearwater, Florida: Restoring Self Scholarship, Full Sail University. The Jerry Wright Memorial Scholarship Fund.
“Military spouses face constant change while supporting their service member’s journey, often adapting careers, education, and family life to meet those challenges,” said Robin Kelleher, co-founder and CEO of the nonprofit organization. “When the unimaginable happens and they step into the role of caregiver or survivor, life can shift in an instant. These spouses show remarkable strength, resilience, and love in the face of uncertainty. This scholarship program is HOPE’s way of honoring their sacrifices by restoring a sense of normalcy and giving them the tools to reclaim control of their future.”
Since the program’s inception, Hope For The Warriors has granted 311 Military Spouse and Caregiver Scholarships totaling $783,607.
The 2026 spring scholarship application is open from Now – September 30. To receive an application to apply, visit hopeforthewarriors.organd connect for services.
