Recipients from across the country will receive full-tuition scholarships

University of Phoenix and the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS) are proud to announce the 2025 winners of full-tuition scholarships for a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree program for current enlisted National Guard servicemembers and their immediate family members. This year’s scholarship winners are Nitasa Freund, Isabella Hunsicker and John Wellington.

“At University of Phoenix, we are proud to serve working adults, and it is a distinct privilege to support veteran students and their families,” says Dr. Scott Myers, Phoenix Campus and Academic Director. “The courage and dedication of those who serve our country inspire us every day. These scholarships reflect our ongoing commitment to the military community, and we are honored to help these students pursue their educational and career goals.”

Military members and families often encounter challenges of time, commitments, and circumstance to reaching their academic and career goals. The EANGUS Future Phoenix Scholarship is intended to recognize the military service commitment and provide an opportunity to further education goals for current enlisted National Guard servicemembers and their immediate family members.

Freund, a National Guard Staff Sergeant and former Healthcare Specialist, is pursuing a master's in criminal justice at University of Phoenix. “Earning this degree is both a personal milestone and a professional catalyst,” he shares. “It represents the next chapter of growth and purpose after my service, equipping me with the tools and credentials needed to lead impactful projects in my industry.” Freund has served globally in Germany, Israel, and Poland, as well as continuing to mentor others while pursuing a career in law enforcement.

Wellington, a native of Kingston, Jamaica, and Company First Sergeant of the 101st Signal Battalion, brings two decades of distinguished service to his academic journey. His military career spans multiple leadership roles and deployments, and he has completed extensive military education including the United States Army’s Sergeants Major Academy. Wellington’s commitment to excellence is reflected in his numerous awards and decorations, including the Meritorious Service Medal and the Afghanistan and Iraq Campaign Medals.

Hunsicker, whose father serves in the Air National Guard and was a previous scholarship recipient, is pursuing a degree in Psychology at University of Phoenix. “By completing my degree, I am gaining a greater understanding of the emotional experiences of people that not everyone sees,” she says. “I hope to build my professional career around helping others to heal from the trauma that they may have been holding back and to serve others with empathy and compassion.”

EANGUS is the largest enlisted reserve component association with a mission to give a voice to the enlisted National Guard men and women, their families and retirees on Capitol Hill. University of Phoenix and EANGUS have teamed up since 2011, awarding dozens of scholarships to date, including full and partial tuition, to either current members or immediate family members of the military and EANGUS.

“The National Guard represents the best of America, with service members who are resilient, capable, and committed,” said EANGUS Executive Director John Gipe. “Through our continued collaboration with University of Phoenix, we empower our members to turn their service-driven experience into academic achievement. Every degree earned is a step forward not just for the individual, but for the communities they continue to serve.”

University of Phoenix is a certified Arizona Veteran Supportive Campus and remains connected to the military community, maintaining relationships with Military Professional Associations to help support those association members and University of Phoenix students.

Learn more here about resources for student veterans and military service members at the University of Phoenix.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelor’s and master’s degree programs and a Career Services for Life® commitment help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu/blog.html.

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