About the Fund
The Colonel Robert L. Hill Family Scholarship for Veterans supports veterans, active-duty service members, and spouses of service members who have served their country. This scholarship helps them return to school and pursue their educational dreams and goals.
How to Apply
For instructions on how to apply for the First Command Veterans Family Scholarship, please visit the UMD Veteran Student Life Website. If you have any questions about the application process, please contact us at sagiving@umd.edu or 301-314-4900.
Meet the Scholars
Ryan grew up in Marlboro, New Jersey, and chose to defer a year from the University of Maryland to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps as a reservist at age 18. During his gap year, he accomplished his life goal of becoming a U.S. Marine and graduated first in his class at his aircraft maintenance schoolhouse before volunteering to serve an additional four months of active duty at his unit. While his time in the Marine Corps has had an indescribable impact on his life, he now claims Maryland as his home as he sets his sights on graduating with a bachelor’s degree in information science.
Ryan Andreasen, 2025-2027 Scholar
Christopher joined the Army after high school, completed initial training and the U.S. Army Airborne School, and earned his spot in the 82nd Airborne Division. He served as a combat engineer with the 919th Combat Engineering Company for several years before transitioning to college, and he is now working toward his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Maryland.
Christopher Gardner, 2026-2027 Scholar
Alfredo is a nontraditional student in the architecture program. He has volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, tutored students in math, and mentored incoming freshmen. When he is not working or studying, he is creating or teaching others.
Alfredo Reyes, 2026-2027 Scholar
Nhu is a junior majoring in public health science at the University of Maryland with aspirations of attending veterinary school and continuing to serve in the U.S. Air Force. Alongside her academics, she serves in the Air Force Reserve and participates in Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) at UMD. Her Maryland experience has allowed her to challenge herself academically, develop as a leader, and balance the responsibilities of being a student, cadet, and service member.
Nhu Vu, 2025-2027 Scholar
Past Scholars
Brandon Koskey (2025-2026 Scholar)
Brandon was an avionics technician in the U.S. Marine Corps and is now pursuing a degree in electrical engineering. At the University of Maryland, he served as a volunteer manager at the Sandbox Makerspace, helping students and staff bring their creative and technical ideas to life. His studies focus on signal processing and quantum mechanics, and he applies what he learned at Maryland to radar processing techniques at the Naval Research Laboratory.
Maria Smith (2024-2025 Scholar)
Maria Smith was a Captain in the Army and a Warehouse Manager at Amazon before coming back to school to pursue her dream to become a veterinarian. She volunteers at her local animal shelter whenever she can. Maria hopes to become a livestock veterinarian so she can work to make life better for animals and humans.
Daniel Langford (2024-2025 Scholar)
Daniel Langford is married with a beautiful wife and son. He is one of five children and the first of my siblings to attend college. Daniel has been in the Marine Corps for over eight years. Prior to the Marine Corps, Daniel spent a short period of time working in law enforcement which inspired him to continue a criminal justice degree.
Miguel Martinez (2023-2024 Scholar)
Miguel Martinez is a disabled veteran, a husband, and a father. He is the son of two Army veterans and the brother of a Navy veteran. He was an excellent student and athlete in high school, but unfortunately, a higher education was simply not an option for him after graduating due to financial concerns. As such, Miguel made what would turn out to be the best decision of his life and enlisted in the US Air Force, which gave him the opportunity to experience a variety of cultures around the world and allowed him to meet his lovely wife and build their family. Although Miguel mentioned his service first, it is his family that is most important to him.
Cody Schatz (2022-2024 Scholar)
Cody Schatz is a senior Physiology and Neurobiology Major graduating in December 2023 and a US Air Force Veteran. He started his undergraduate career at UMD in fall 2020 on a pre-medical track. Since then he has engaged in epidemiology and education research, clinical experiences, and remained involved with the Terp Vets student organization. Cody currently plans to apply to medical schools in June of 2024.
Chris Luna (2020-2021 Scholar)
Chris Luna is a Navy veteran who served for five years as an aviation mechanic. He currently is pursuing a degree in International Relations with a Minor in Global Terrorism Studies at the University of Maryland. He also serves the student veteran community at the University of Maryland through the the office of Veteran Student Life as a VA Work Study. As a young Filipino immigrant, he grew up wanting to spread the freedom and opportunities that the U.S. granted him. His goal is to fulfill his passion in public service through a career in foreign policy.
Aaron Munoz-Seiler (2017-2018 Scholar)
Victoria Elliott (2016-2017 Scholar)
Victoria L. Elliott is from Columbia, South Carolina and is a U.S. Navy Combat Veteran. She served roughly seven years on active duty and deployed three times. She has traveled to 16 different countries and provided hands-on patient care: (1) in the Intensive Care Unit at the U.S. Naval Hospital, Guam; (2) aero-medically to the victims of the USS Frank Cable's boiler explosion; (3) to high-profile detainees in GTMO; and (4) to Haiti's earthquake victims. While in Kuwait, she transported personnel during convoy missions.
Matthew R. Burke (2015-2016 Scholar)
Growing up in Maryland, Matthew was an active child, both in and out of the classroom, with an innate sense of curiosity and adventure. This is partially what led him to join the United States Army, where he served on active duty for five years. As a Field Artillery officer, he received his training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma and then was stationed at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Todd Waters (2014-2015 Scholar)
Todd is in his senior year and will graduate in May with a bachelor's degree in Cell Biology and Genetics. He is an eight year veteran of the U.S. Air Force where he served as a Chinese Mandarin linguist. A native of Florida, Todd comes from a long line of military family members including both of Todd's parents and his grandfather. Todd is currently looking at continuing his education with a Master's degree in Toxicology or Entomology. He works as a research assistant in Bee Informed Partnership's lab here in College Park, helping to save the honey bees!
