Hope For The Warriors awards 22 military spouse and caregiver scholarships, the most ever

SPRINGFIELD, Va. (August 9, 2023) – Hope For The Warriors recently awarded 22 Military Spouse and Caregiver Scholarships for higher education for the fall 2023 semester, its largest to-date.

Hope For The Warriors is a national nonprofit that assists veterans, service members and military families with a variety of programming including health and wellness, sports and recreation and transition services.

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 Master of Social Work students, Restoring Hope.

The fall 2023 New Beginnings Scholarships are funded with a $15,000 donation in memory of Jerry Wright, through a gift from Fred and Maria Jose Wright and their foundation.

Scholarships totaling $49,400 were awarded to the following for the 2023 spring semester:

• Marsha Avery of Hays, Kansas: Honorary Scholarship, Herzing University
• Katie Christie of Lebanon, New Hampshire: Honorary Scholarship, MGH Institute of Health Professions
• Andrea Ryan of Garner, North Carolina: Honorary Scholarship, Duke University
• Karla Seijas of Merced, California (two-time recipient): Honorary Scholarship, University of California Merced
• Heather Carpenter of Beaufort, North Carolina: Restoring Self Scholarship, Southern New Hampshire.
• Lauren Fagan of Sneads Ferry, North Carolina: Restoring Self Scholarship, University of Maryland
• Jessica Ebanks of Herndon, Virginia: Restoring Self Scholarship, Oregon State University
• Candace Mulhauser of Mesa, Arizona: Restoring Self Scholarship, Arizona State University
• Maria Adams of Wylie, Texas: Restoring Hope Scholarship, The University of Texas Arlington
• Kimberly Gordon of Menasha, Wisconsin: Restoring Hope Scholarship, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
• Emily White of Magnolia, Delaware: Restoring Hope Scholarship, University of Kentucky
• Aymber McElroy of Lakewood, Colorado: Restoring Family Scholarship, University of Wyoming
• Sari Louis-Pierre of San Diego, California: Restoring Family, North Central University
• Jessica Taskey of Wilmington, North Carolina: Restoring Family Scholarship, University of North Carolina Wilmington
• Victoria Allen of Lubbock, Texas: New Beginnings Scholarship, Texas Tech University
• Courtney Brewer Coglan of Citrus Springs, Florida: New Beginnings Scholarship, College of Central Florida
• Michelle Chamblee of Milford, Delaware (two-time recipient): New Beginnings Scholarship, Delaware Technical Community College
• Laura Frelot of Waianae, Hawaii: New Beginnings Scholarship, Leeward Community College
• Audrea Laureiro of Derry, New Hampshire: New Beginnings Scholarship, Manchester Community College
• Diana Villa of Bradenton, Florida: New Beginnings Scholarship, Gallup Institute
• Sandra Wheeler of Little Elm, Texas: New Beginnings Scholarship, Bryan University

“It’s such a thrill, for the second time in 2023, to award the largest scholarship class to date,” said Robin Kelleher, co-founder and president of the nonprofit organization. “This program holds a really special place in my heart. Through the years, I’ve witnessed fellow military families face life altering changes due to service-related injuries. These scholarships can also be life altering for military families but in a positive light and we love rewarding deserving spouses and caregivers.”

Since the program’s inception, Hope For The Warriors has granted 232 Military Spouse and Caregiver Scholarships totaling $600,107.

The 2024 spring scholarship application is open from August 1- October 1. To receive an application to apply, visit hopeforthewarriors.org and connect for services.

For more information on Hope For The Warriors, visit hopeforthewarriors.org,  Facebook or Twitter.

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 159,000 through a variety of support programs focused on providing financial, career and educational stability; physical and emotional strength; and social support that builds community. One of the nonprofit’s first programs, Military Spouse and Caregiver Scholarships, has awarded 232 scholarships to caregivers and families of the fallen. For more information, visit hopeforthewarriors.org, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

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