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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.”

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.

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.

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.