'Grateful for the opportunities': How Fort Bragg spouses will use $70K in scholarships
FORT BRAGG — Mothers, a woman in her 40s, and nurses are among more than a dozen Fort Bragg spouses who receive a little extra help after being chosen for Corvias Foundation’s 2022 military spouse scholarship.
The 14 Fort Bragg spouses are among a total of 18 who will each receive a one-time scholarship of $5,000, according to a news release from the Corvias Foundation — a private organization founded by Corvias housing Chairman John Picerne to support education opportunities for military families.
The scholarship funds can be used for expenses associated with receiving degrees such as paying for transportation to class, childcare, school fees, and more.
“Military spouses in particular face incredibly high unemployment rates and wage gaps,” said Maria Montalvo, Corvias Foundation executive director. “Frequent moves, deployments, childcare needs, and more are obstacles that all contribute to their career challenges.
"We established this scholarship program to combat these hardships and help military spouses earn a degree that will help provide for their families and their own professional future.”
Fort Bragg's spouse Lori Stahlberg has worked in the dental industry for more than 17 years as a dental hygienist while attending North Carolina State University as a full-time student focusing on accounting.
“My children are my main inspiration to pursue higher education,” Stahlberg said. “They inspire me to pursue my dreams and succeed. I want my children to know that they are capable of achieving anything they work hard for and put their minds to. I strive to be the best role model I can be, for them.”
Fort Bragg recipient Joan Rosado said that while being a military spouse requires “holding down the home front, understanding the inconsistencies of demanding careers, and being willing to sacrifice in all areas of life,” she considers it an honor.
“I am grateful for the opportunities this scholarship will provide as I pursue higher education. I am also grateful for my husband's service, which opened the opportunity to accept this scholarship,” Rosado said.
Rosado is a primary school teacher with undergraduate degrees are in special education and rehabilitation with an emphasis on deaf studies, as well as Spanish and Portuguese.
She has been working with children for six years while also attending post-graduate school for three years. She is currently studying curriculum and instruction at Southern New Hampshire University.
Other spouses plan to use the scholarship to advance careers in nursing, interior design, and cyber security.
Col. John Wilcox, Fort Bragg’s garrison commander, congratulated the recipients and wished them the best in their “continued endeavors of higher education.”
Fort Bragg: Spouses receive scholarships
Related: Fort Bragg scholarship recipients named
Other Fort Bragg scholarship recipients
Fort Bragg’s other scholarship recipients are:
• Nyara Allen, a mother of two toddlers, is studying to receive her associate’s degree in nursing. She plans to attend Fayetteville State University to earn her bachelor’s and master’s degrees to become a certified nursing midwife.
• Madeline Carter, a transfer student from Southern Illinois University to Western Governors University, is studying for her elementary education degree. She is in her second semester of the program and is set to graduate in the spring.
• Mechelle Champion is enrolled at Fayetteville Technical Community College and intends to become a surgical technician.
• Luafalealii Evans will finish her bachelor’s in nursing from Fayetteville State University. She believes it is important for military spouses to maintain an individual identity while continuing to support their spouse’s mission.
• Melanie Johnson-Cook is a mother of three who has worked in the medical field for almost nine years. She plans to take courses at the Creighton School of Medicine at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center to complete her second bachelor’s degree with a concentration in nursing.
• Belkis Lopez, who has been a registered nurse for five years and plans to pursue her master’s at the Chamberlain University, College of Nursing – Chicago to become a nurse practitioner.
• Stephanie Mathis is going back to school in her 40s to pursue an associate’s degree in medical office billing and coding before continuing on to receive her bachelor's.
• Kelsey McCann is a California native who recently moved to North Carolina after being stationed in England for almost four years. She is currently studying at Campbell University to become a physician assistant.
• Katie Mook, is a registered nurse who is pursuing her master's with a specialty in family practice at George Washington University.
• Bobbie Nicolas is pursuing her associate’s degree in nursing at Fayetteville Technical Community College with a long-term goal of receiving a bachelor’s in nursing to work in a neonatal intensive care unit or through pediatric home health.
• Cyd Marie RamÌrez Collazo is a University of Puerto Rico student who was admitted to the undergraduate program for biology earlier this year. She has conducted research on the taxonomy of invertebrates from the mesophotic coral reefs of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and is a member of the Biology National Honor Society, Zeta Alpha Chapter.
• Savannah West is interested in interior design and enrolled at the Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design where she is expected to graduate in 2023.
Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Fort Bragg spouses receive extra help with scholarships
