UMGC Joins Maryland Governor in Support of Dole Foundation’s Hidden Heroes Campaign

Since University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) teamed with the Blewitt Foundation to create the Pillars of Strength Scholarship program in 2013, a total of 83 caregivers of injured, ill or wounded military servicemembers have received full-tuition to attend UMGC. That includes 14 recipients-a record-in the 2024 class of scholars.

The program is distinctive for focusing on the spouses, family members and other volunteer caregivers who often must give up jobs and careers but receive little or no government support while caring for their loved ones.

One of the newest recipients, Vanessa Chism, and 2020 recipient Candace Laguna were in Annapolis with their spouses on August 6 representing the Elizabeth Dole Foundation as a Dole Fellows. Both were chosen for the program because of their leadership in the military and veteran caregiver community.

Dole Foundation officials, including former U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole, who served in the cabinets of two U.S. presidents, joined caregivers and their families at the state capitol to witness Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and other officials announce the state's support for the Hidden Heroes campaign. Maryland is the 11^th state to officially back the initiative started by the Dole Foundation.